Customer Reviews

Secrets Of The Sea

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
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This is my first experience with Loquat, and they are a strong indie band with electronica influences. The sound is smooth and breezy, while the lyrics are dark and edgy, and all dominated by lead vocalist Kylee Swensen, who has a strong, engaging voice that is somewhere between Joni Mitchell and Sarah McLachlan. The album has a keyboard-y, singer/songwriter sound circa 1975-85, pulled through a modern filter to this decade. Ten years ago, this band would have been the sort you would see in a Lilith Fair lineup. The songs are wistful takes on loss and failure. Overall, this is worth a listen and probably cracks my top 10 for albums of 2008.

The second album from San Francisco based band Loquat, who initially made a splash on their third EP with their sublime Smiths cover, "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out," is a glossy set of electronica influenced songs, musically firmly in the tradition of bands like Ivy, Frou Frou, Everything But The Girl, Hooverphonic and Dido. Lyrically, they eschew songs about romance, instead opting for songs exploring loss, grief and loneliness. Owing to this, they put a unique stamp on the genre they're working in, enabling their intelligently made pop to stand out amid an admittedly crowded field of musical peers. Loquat has a first rate lead vocalist in Kylee Swenson, who also writes the lyrics, and she backed by a talented crew of musicians. They deserve a wider audience, and hopefully Secrets Of The Sea will attract more listeners for them. If you enjoy the aforementioned bands, or else the Cardigans, Stereolab or Cat Power, musicians they cite as influences, then I very much encourage you to check Loquat out. Standout cuts: "Harder Hit," "Sit Sideways," "These Kinds Of Friends" and "Go Hibernate."

*** Bought this along with It's Yours to Keep, so this is for the most part the same review ***

Not sure if it was through an Imogen Heap or Astronaut's Wife seed on [..], but this band is by far the best find I've stumbled upon since using the music service.

"Take It Back" from their previous album was what did it for me. Liked it the first time I heard it, loved it the second time, and knew I had to hear more from this band thereafter. Was not long before I bought both this album and "It's Yours to Keep" off Amazon and was jones'n for the arrival of that smiley face box. Off this album, check out "Harder Hit" and "Sit Sideways" as easy favorites.

I found that I went at least a couple weeks of listening to both CDs on constant rotation in my car's CD changer; intentionally stopped myself, since I didn't want to ever tire of listening to them. What's refreshing is the quality of writing and production is consistent across both albums, so it's like listening to a stellar 21-track album. I credit this to Kylee Swenson's song-writing and her unique, butter-smooth voice... pleasant to look at, as well... but to the misfortune of us dreamers, apparently already married. If you're one just into the aesthetics of music that sounds good, this album is a must-have. The lyrics are worth a listen, as well, so this not a manufactured pop band by any means. They have this authentic, meant-to-be kind of vibe working for them.

PLEASE give this band a shot. It's a shame more don't seem to know about them. At SXSW, last year, and again, this year. So, hopefully, they'll start getting the recognition they deserve. Any fellow Bay Area-ites should jump on the next chance to see this San Francisco band in person -- here's a great sample of what you're in for (YouTube "Harder Hit," if link no worky):[...]

The follow-up to "It's yours to keep" Loquat has just outdone themselves. Serene and reflective lyrics dominate from singer-songwriter Kylee Swenson's strong and absolutely beautiful voice. It feels like they've opened up their sound a bit from earthy solemnness to more of a sweeping hopefulness. The change is a welcome one however, it doesn't disappoint. This is a must have CD for indie pop/rock fans!