Porcelain Raft – Permanent Signal

Before I start this review, I will preface by saying I am unfamiliar with this band's first album, which may affect the overall timbre and perspective I take in my review. Looking into them, I know songwriter/singer Mauro Remiddi is from Italy, so I'll ignore any issues that may arise from his singing, which does sound rather ESL in terms of vowel shape and pronunciation.

It's hard to know what exactly to make of this album. It makes weird shifts between moody atmospheric electronic dream pop with rock tracks that sound more like Explosions In The Sky and vocals that will go back-and-forth on the album. I think the best way to look at it is that Mauro is at least not pigeonholing himself in terms of his overall sound range with Porcelain Raft, which is admirable. That's not to say there aren't some fine tracks on this album. “Night Birds” has a chorus reminiscent of and as chilling as “Comfortably Numb” and “The Way Out” is a bopping track made for an Indian summer night, reminiscent of a dancier Besnard Lakes.

Overall, I find this to be a pretty okay album. The more rocking tracks really hit home, while the more somber electronic ones really remind me of M83's Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts. It may be a bit too mid-tempo in my taste, but not a bad effort. The tracks that are strong can really resonate. When songs this ethereal and lush are mediocre, however, they can sometimes only be engaged as background muzak, not striking enough to call for engagement up close.

-Eric Wiig