LPFM - Voices

LPFM

Voices
self-released; 2020

3.9 out of 5

By J. J. Thayer

​LPFM, a Los Angeles-based indie duo, consists of Chris Paul Overall and John Wilson III. Overall wrote the melodies and lyrics; he also sings and plays guitar. Wilson wrote most of the music, and contributes drums and keyboards to the record. Guest musicians Justin Burrow (guitars), Dallas Kruse (organ) and Nic Rodriguez (bass) round out the lineup on LPFM’s debut EP Voices.

What does LPFM stand for? They didn’t tell us. Low Pass Frequency Modulation? Love Pays For Much? Maybe it’s Let’s Play F***ing Music. If that’s what they meant, it’s an apt band name. Voices is a treat.

Overall and Wilson meld a lot of influences into these five tracks (“spanning more that 50 years,” they say), but most importantly, they haven’t forgotten that they are songs first. Everywhere, there’s melody, melody, melody, and wonderful space, space, space. There are cool, inventive sounds, especially for the guitar solos, and the guitar solos have actual melodies too! It is so refreshing to have a group that cares about every note that they’ve put on a record. Hooray!

Now to some highlights. “Are You Listening,” an upbeat, poppy number, is a fine beginning. Yes, I’m paying attention:  the group adds texture gradually (including some backing-vocal easter eggs and lovely organ sounds). There’s a great a cappella finish that will remind you of the Beach Boys, especially as it leads right into “California Bound,” another fun mid-tempo pop tune.

The title track is the top pick. It’s a sonic journey, starting with an a cappella introduction that Brian Wilson would be proud of. The first verse offers a ‘90s brood-rock feel, but then LPFM works in some classic surf-rock organ tones and the music morphs into more of a straight-ahead late-‘60s psychedelic rocker. The guitar solo offers a modern-day feel; all of this is held together with a lovely vocal melody. LPFM caps the track off with an a cappella coda that had me looking for my copy of Pet Sounds. Wow!

​Voices is well-produced and mixed throughout. It sounds terrific! All five songs are well-constructed and well-executed:  this EP is well worth your listening time and music-budget dollars. Overall and Wilson, keep it up. LPFM? LFG!

Become A Fan

official website

Tweet