Melody Music is a trio that hails from Bern, Switzerland. Friends Luka Mandic (guitars/vocals/lyrics) and Luzius Schuler (drums/percussion/synths) got together in early 2020 to write and learn about studio gear.
As their music evolved and they built their skills, they added Timothée Giddey (bass/saxophone) to round out the recording lineup. Schuler recorded and mixed the final product Melody Music EP which is four tracks of danceable, smooth, well-constructed pop. The band describes their music as “neon-coloured songs that slowly drip down from the clammy ceiling and glow … [a] candle that melts into something that already existed … [a] lava lamp of emotions.” They certainly know what they’ve recorded. These are all smooth, well-constructed tracks that just ease over your ears with strong melodies over nice variations of instrumental textures and tones. “Angel” kicks us off. It’s a mid-tempo rocker with in-the-pocket drums and bass that will put a little movement in your hips. The strong production values are worth noting, too: the smooth melody and synths are nicely set against thickening percussion and some pinpoint hi-hat figures. There’s a very cool morph into the coda section with a variation of the melody against a lo-fi drum loop. “Elmo & the Atomic Bomb” is this listener’s favorite track on the EP. It starts as a folk song with an engaging acoustic-guitar figure locked in by a just-right drum pattern. The Nicky Hopkins-like piano figure and incidental vocal harmonies give it a pop flair. The bridge introduces some fun chords and dissonance. The lyrics tell an allegorical story with a light touch, allowing the listener to find his own interpretation. It’s a winner! Melody Music keeps it up with “Polaroid,” another track that just eases right over you. Mandic’s guitar sounds evoke surf-rock, or the ocean waves, and the groove has a bit of an island feel. The production shines here, again, with little metronomic percussion pops mixed in among the layers of synths and guitars. “Thumbs Up” closes the EP. The song features a pop melody and approach, but Melody Music put more-interesting-than-usual harmonies underneath to give it an enjoyable wrinkle. Giddey gets a few turns up front, coaxing a beautiful tone from his horn as he blows two jazzy sax solos. Melody Music is a well-done set that belies the “do-it-yourself” credit in the liner notes. The EP (and band) lives up to its name with its fine melodies and well-constructed pop songs. Enjoy a spin!
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