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Sep 19, 2014 Issue #50 - June/July 2014 - Future Islands By Scott Dransfield

Nick Zammuto‘s first post-The Books album was busy, wild, and eclectic, making pop music out of experimentation. On sophomore release Anchor, Zammuto remains as fidgety as ever, but this time around, he’s given the music space to breathe. Opener “Good Graces” quickly falls into an irresistible groove that makes it clear that Zammuto’s taking his time. Other songs like “Henry Lee (Trad.)” and “Stop Counting” are drenched in synth chords and reverbed vocals, and they’re gorgeous. That doesn’t mean he’s stopped rocking, though: the most upbeat songs (“Need Some Sun,” “IO”) are just as exciting. Zammuto has a real knack for bringing hard-to-digest elements—like unusual time signatures and experimental recording techniques—together into smooth, catchy pop music. This talent makes Anchor one of the most exhilarating and creative albums of the year thus far. (www.zammutosound.com)

Author rating: 8/10