REVIEW: Taxiride, Imaginate (Sire)
- Tracey Bleile
Another pick-of-the-litter band has popped itself head and shoulders above the crowd of movies that has marked the beginning of another summer season by way of that elusive perfect, catchy tune. With roots tucked firmly in '70s-style electrified folk, and exploding outward with glorious four-part harmonies, the Melbourne, Australia, band Taxiride upholds a long and rich tradition of Australian pop music with their debut Imaginate. The first single, "Get Set," is featured on the soundtrack for the dark comedy Election .
This glossy, stylish sound is equal parts Seal -- in the strength of the arrangements and musicianship ("Rocketship" and the aforementioned "Get Set") -- and another part that is Simon & Garfunkel and CSN in the revitalized art of rock harmonies ("Can You Feel," "Ditty"). The buffing given by uber-producer Jack Joseph Puig reveals a definite ghost of Jellyfish floating around this charmed little release on both ends of the spectrum, from the almost acapella and sweetly sad "Let Me Die Young," to the giddy Sgt. Pepper moment in "Ice Cream."
If anything, Taxiride may be a bit too perfect. There is a sense of not a note out of place, and as a result, there an edginess that was traded off for accessibility. However, this gathering of multi-faceted and multi-talented musicians is, as I said, head and shoulders above any dance-moves and harmonies-only boy group dominating the pop collective at the present. Swoon away. That's exactly what they want, but they'll truly be glad you did.
