Continuing the near recent trend of bands releasing new music anonymously or without fanfare, experimental stateside combo Coco unveiled their titular debut long player following a bunch of early singles appearing as if by magic. Each record comprised languid, deeply infectious slices of soft rock, winning hearts and minds from many an unsuspecting listener.
Comprising a collective of Stateside wanderers Maia Friedman (voice/guitars), Oliver Hll (bass/vocals) and Dan Molad (drums/vocals), each having cut their chops amongst a gaggle of cult bands beforehand, “2” constitutes Coco’s follow-up, seemingly a deeper dive into their alluringly kooky Americana.
Released on 1st March via First City Artists and self produced in Joshua Tree, California, “2” feels capacious and snug in equal measure. Lead off single, the Byrds tinged ‘Mythological Man’ borrows from psych-pop from more than half a century ago whereas the claustrophobic ‘Moodrings’ is every bit its contemporary opposite, gloriously coming up for air every once in a while.
Pick of the bunch is the lush transcendent ‘Cora Lu’. Almost childlike and hymnal in places, it’s a disarming ode to Maia Friedman’s newfound motherhood, a perfect lullaby for little ones the world over transfixed by the vast expanse and bright colours of their new surroundings, yet also perfectly at home heard in front of a roaring midwinter hearth, a testament to its versatility..
‘’The Swimmer’ exudes jazz-club bossanova, the cigarette smoke palpably emanating from your audio device whereas ’Wheel’ smacks of Richard Hawley meeting Scott Walker, Hill’s wistful vocal, a mix of yearning whilst simultaneously resigned to his fate. Dense closer ‘Do This Right’ is practically an instrumental, the ideal way to slowly drift back to earth.
Deceptively abundant.
Words - Michael Price
Coco official