Coming into his album I was completely oblivious to Mamalarky and what to expect from their sophomore album. After listening to “Pocket Fantasy”, I would consider myself a fan of this retro sounding band from none other than Austin, Texas.
The album kicks off with the track Frog 2. The odd time signature, soft melodies, and weird animal noises make for an interesting sound that I’m not quite sure captures what’s in store for the rest of the album. This song sticks out to me, so if you aren’t a huge fan of this piece don’t be discouraged. Track two, Mythical Bonds, seems to introduce Mamalarky’s sound more efficiently. The guitar has a seventies sounding resonance to it, and lead singer Livvy Bennett’s voice is so complimentary and light to the overall sound. Little Robot has a similar seventies sounding psychedelic rock feel to it, something that I think works well for their sound.
The next three songs switch from that psychedelic vibe to something I would compare to bedroom pop or lo-fi with some funky melodies that give it a nontraditional sound. There are also some subtle jazz notes in every song on the album, giving Mamalarky a unique sound. One of my favorite moments in the whole album is in the song July where about halfway through a symphonic solo cuts like butter through the soft guitar.
Building castles and Dance Together slow down the pace and really show their ability to make a beautiful, peaceful sound even with the not so normal noises happening in the background. Some of the sounds are a little abrupt but for some reason it just works here. My favorite song is The Hour. The funky guitar is back for this one! The contrast between Livvy’s very modern sounding voice and the vintage guitar is so perfect. Bringing the album to a close is the track Now a slower song about cherishing each moment as you’re in it, and the sound conveys that reminiscent feeling very well.
Overall, I like the way each song keeps you guessing what the next one will sound like. Some people may view this as proof that they are a newer band still trying to find their sound, but I think it is charming and makes for a fun album. If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock or jazz give Mamalarky’s Pocket Fantasy a listen.
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