The boys of Reptar- aptly named after the Godzilla-like dinosaur from Rugrats - attend various colleges, but their foundation is set in Athens and University of Georgia. Synth pop in nature with elements of funk and lo-fi, their sound is a cocktail of Animal Collective, Twin Shadow, and Passion Pit mixed with some classically funky rhythms from Bootsy Collins and Prince served with a twist of Vampire Weekend.
The band is made up of Andrew McFarland, Ryan Engleberger, William Kennedy, and lead singer Graham Ulicny (who definitely channels Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend). The band started playing shows as Reptar in December 2008 and quickly built up quite a fan base deeply rooted in the Southeast. They recently generated a lot of buzz after being one of the most talked about new bands at SXSW 2011. As performers they have put out various tracks, but their debut full-length EP (interestingly titled Oblangle Fizz Y’all) was officially released earlier this month. Allowing them to live up to the recent hype they have stirred up, it is a solid EP with each track offering something slightly different to experience. However, all seem to gravitate back toward a series of funky, electronic samples.The album opens with odd sounds simulating tribal chanting in “Blast Off.” Some 1980’s influences shine through early on. The track shifts rather quickly into an instrumental, which I think really illustrates what kind of musicality the band truly encompasses. The latter section of the track softens up a bit letting back in the chanting the listener hears in the beginning. It is almost a bit hypnotic. “Blast Off” sets the tone for the album leaving the listener salivating for sure.
The second track, “Rainbounce,” starts off much lighter and has a little bit of a reggae sound to it; this provides further evidence of Reptar's versatility. As the track progresses, the song transforms into a heavier sort of rock in contrast to the rest of the EP and the listener is really exposed to Graham Ulicny’s vocal range. This track absolutely brings everything to the table, revealing that Reptar does not set any limits for itself.
As the EP evolves the listener gets a sense that Reptar enjoys injecting a variety of different noises into their music. This is especially evident in the EP’s third track, “Context Clues,” where you can hear such sounds as an owl’s hoot, crickets chirping, and the ring of an alarm or a telephone. As sounds build, the listener gets hit with an awesome synth break that forms the foundation for the rest of the track. The repetition of phrases and the addition of smooth horns at the end is an excellent touch to an already incredible song.
The album closes with a track entitled “Phoenetics”, which opens up with a soft piano riff and simple vocals. With the addition of various instruments that include an accordion, the listener almost gets a sense of ease and comfort. The energy of the final track is definitely bright and cheerful and the piano was an excellent way to wind the album down and leave the listener wanting more.
Mixtape THIS: The one song I would add to my mixtape from Oblangle Fizz Y'all would undoubtedly be the fourth track, which is entitled “Stuck in My Id.” From Tom Jenkinson, "It is truly a sum of its parts, from the charming guitar riffs to the odd synthy pops and bangs; you just know it took ages to come up with. The cleverly vox fed vocals manage to still remain clean, whilst retaining that sun kissed lo-fi feel that calms, binds, and themes the entire track."
Download "Stuck in My Id" for free! Right click the player above to download. (MAC: Choose "Download Linked File As"| PC: Choose "Save Target As")
Adam Wishon
See Reptar perform live with Quiet Hooves, Cute Boots, We the Lion, and more for FREE Thursday, August 25 at Star Bar. Show starts at 9PM...did we mention it's free?
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