Super Fragile California is a post-pop noise band formed in New York City in 2006 by designer and maker Rob Smiley. In 2011, SFC moved to the Bay Area, where the band continues to record and perform. Under the Weather is their debut album.
The band’s sound diverges into a varied listening experience. Working in bass hooks and driving electronic beats, each track maintains its own characteristics. With each song standing alone on its own merits, it is difficult to peg the album to any one genre but you can say that they cover the electronic, punk pop and emo terrains. The album explores an immediate future filled with edgy imageries and dreamy soundscapes. Under the Weather opens with “The Speed Of Sound” where beats buoy this track. The vocals come across as a bit subdued as the instrumentals unleash a minimalistic and sparse sound. Growling bass lines roar to life on “Ten To One.” The vocals sound out in a drone-like chant. The singing and music carry with it an emo and punk flair. More monotony is alluded in the vocals for “The Sea” that are nearly guttural. All I know is that I could hear his voice deep in my gut somewhere. The bass lines offer up a funky groove while the keys relinquish an energized feel. The band lets it rip with dark sounding riffs on the somber sounding “Let’s Get This Show Started,” while “Time Capsule” highlights a more sunny and upbeat approach to the album. The melody on this song comes alive with vocals shouted out in the punk rock spirit. Warbling synths give “Terra” a robotic and moody flair. The intro displays the band thoroughly jamming out. The band does a total 180 with the closer “When You Get Younger.” This is mainly an acoustic song with an intimate performance with the guitar and vocals that is both warm and heartfelt. The band mentions: “Initially written in response to the RPM challenge, the writing approach varied from song to song: bass lines driving the development of certain songs, beats others. Guitars are deployed as textures and attacks. The goal was to create a sparse but thick sound, simple but still dark and full of intent.” And indeed, Super Fragile California is able to successfully accomplish this, embracing their artsy side and channeling their penchant for experimentation. The album journeys through the shadowy abyss of a world on the peripheral with a whole lot to explore and ripe with many untold discoveries on the horizon. Each song an experience of its own captures the essence of adventure. Super Fragile California’s long-awaited debut is a whole lot to experience. The band packs a dystopian world neatly into their 11-track album. While the riffs were for the majority dark, I greatly enjoyed it when they delved into their more acoustic leanings especially on the closer “When You Get Younger.” I hope to see more from the band with them maybe exploring their more acoustic-based sound in future releases.
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