You know those moments when you’ve been having a really bad day and nothing you seem to do makes it any better? Well I was having one of those moments tonight. Work was a total nightmare, the rain was pouring (again!), my bank card got stuck in the atm and when I got home the TV wasn’t working.
I only had one beer in the fridge so cracking that open, I then did what I normally do in these moments; I dived into the inbox to look for some good music to lift the spirits. Luckily this was the right thing to do because I came across Fialta and their gorgeous indie pop. A quick listen to “Summer Winter” and suddenly the day didn’t seem so bad after all.
Based in San Luis Obispo, California (referred to as “the happiest city in America” by Oprah Winfrey – already I’m thinking I should move there) they formed this year. The foursome are David Provenzano, Michael Leibovich, Beth Anne Clements and Sarah Shotwell and they’re all multi-instrumentalists and multi-vocalists. Describing their sound as “Central Coast Literary Pop”, which I think is one of the coolest genres I’ve heard in a long time, they’re currently recording an album and touring.
The EP I’ve got for you here starts with the track that raised my mood. As soon as I heard the opening few bars on what must be a ukulele, backed by the rapid clapping, I started tapping along. This is feel-good music with a great singalong chorus and a lovely example of the multi-instrumentalism that the band prides itself on. “Drafty Rooms” is a slower number about a relationship breakup ending with some excellent harmonies whilst “Porphyria’s Lover” has a touch of the Fleet Foxes about it, building to the kind of crescendoed ending that I love!
Based on this evidence (and the fact they cheered me up!) I can’t wait to hear their album when they release it in the Summer.
Connect with Fialta: Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | MySpace | YouTube
