Search - Vervein :: Vast Low Cities

From the time they open their lips on the one-minute opener to their self-released debut, "One Whole Year," it's apparent that this San Francisco quartet is intent on treating us to gorgeously layered, hushed vocals a la This Mortal Coil's Rutkowski sisters or His Name is Alive's Livonia, bouncy melodies as unforgettable as The Go-Go's, and a mesmerizing pop sensibility we haven't heard since femme Brit poppers like Lush, The Primitives, and The Heart Throbs. The aural syrup of "Ace" features a sparkling, Red House Painters-styled solo from co-founder Esther Reyes and while the entire album is best appreciated loud and under the influence of headphones, I'd like to call particular attention to the off-the-wall harmonics of "Mush." Not since the glorious days of the Millington sisters and their archetypal female rock band, Fanny, have we been as impressed with the vocal interplay as we are here with the duo of the other co-founding guitarist Jess Congdon and bassist Rachel Fuller. Of course, having said that, the rough-edged "Mockingbird" immediately recalls 90s faves, The Heart Throbs, an impression reinforced on the swirling, psychedelically tinged "Station," (listen to Cleopatra Grip's "Calavera" as a reference point), which again features some stellar strumming from Reyes. She also pulls double duty on cello, adding a warm glow to "Cautious," and an air of heartbreaking mystery to the slower-than-molasses "Three." Kudos, also to that neat introductory solo on the latter, a daring move on what is otherwise an upbeat collection of pure pop bliss. If Jess and Rachel aren't singing to each other on "Fields of Green," I'd like to wrap my arms around both of them and go for a long stroll in the park, listening to this incredibly romantic cuddlefest, perfectly suited for some high-spirited makeup sex. The best "vocal" album of the year, Vast Low Cities is also stacked to the rafters with lushly romantic pop songs that'll have this listener's ears glued to the speakers, hotly anticipating their follow-up. -Jeff Penzcak, fakejazz.com