Amo Amo
Mystic Fox, 2019
8/10
A Los Angeles outfit that includes a member of the always impressive Gardens & Villa, Amo Amo describe themselves as psychedelic dream-pop, which no one could disagree with, and a guy most of us have heard of named Jim James turned the knobs on this debut album.
“Closer To You” gets the album started with warm vocal harmonies and throwback nods to reggae as calm grooves set the scene, and “When I Look At You” follows with a punchier spirit that recruits pop ideas into their soulful formula.
Elsewhere, the dreamy, hazy “When We’re Gone” is a moment of mysterious beauty, while “Antidote” yields rich guitar work in a rhythmic setting where funk and soul enter the equation.
Near the end, “Teacher” is a cozy duet of indie-pop meets R&B flavoring, and “Wish I Had The Power” settles nicely into an eclectic late disc highlight. “Echoes Just Begun” ends the listen with expressive vocals, lush melodies and a fluid mix of synth and guitar lines, putting the exclamation point on the dynamic chemistry present here.
In a time when so much pop music contains trite commonalities, it’s refreshing to see creativity like this that’s difficult to categorize but easy to enjoy. An impressive first record, it will be exciting to see what lies ahead for these 5 artists.
Travels well with: My Morning Jacket- It Still Moves; Dirty Projectors- Rise Above