Motel
Self-Released, 2020
8/10
A collaborative concept album, the artists Tim and Paul Krauss actually grew up in a midwest motel that their parents owned, and they documented that experience here with Pawl. who has a rich history in indie-pop, folk, jazz, rock and hip-hop.
Ttypes starts the listen with the snappy, upbeat excursion into harmonic pop textures on “Good Boy Young”, and Pawl follows with a piano friendly and dreamy delivery of fluid pop-rock on the title track.
Of the ttypes tunes, the soulful vocals of “The Shore” and highly melodic “Captured Light” certainly stand out, though “Sky Men/ Space Lights” is the highlight tune as the hazy pop flows alongside pretty dual gender vocals.
Pawl’s best selections include the soft and soothing “Home”, as well as the rhythmic “Newspaper Mountains”, which brings a fuller moment of agile instrumentation. “Vacant”, the best tune between both bands, offers a swift display of breezy melodies in a timeless fashion that draws parallels to Brian Wilson.
Michigan has never been short on exciting indie-rock, and Pawl & ttypes continue that tradition with a charming and hook heavy affair that’s got plenty of singer-songwriter spirit and even more imagination that’s quite infectious.
Travels well with: The Apples In Stereo- New Magnetic Wonder; Dressy Bessy- Fast Faster Disaster