In Light by Givers
LABEL: Glassnote

Buoyancy (noun) - 1. The power to float or rise in a fluid; relative lightness. 2. Lightness or resilience of spirit; cheerfulness.

Many things came to mind when the first single “Up, Up, Up” from the Louisiana-based quintet Givers circulated online. Most noticeably, the prominent use of afro-beat percussion that Vampire Weekend and other hipster bands have discovered, a motivating tool to get the kids these dancing. A nod to Animal Collective is in order for their eclectic use of sound effects.

But the only adjective that came into my head when the album In Light graced my ears was: buoyant. The music seemed to float, and soon enough, my metaphor-ridden mind was imagining a beach ball, tossed back and forth by the tropical waves. The music seems to lend itself to a feeling of constant change in course or tempo, if you will, as though it were a harmless floating object.

“The real gift that I’ve discovered, however,
is the feeling of summer...”

The album opens with “Up, Up, Up” and sets the stage for what to expect for the rest of the album: relentless percussion that jives and shimmies to and fro, lively Vampire Weekend-esque vocals (yes I said it) wrapped in reverb and, of course, the half time breakdown and buildup to bring the song to a conclusion — just in case you thought you had an idea of where this was all going.

Lead singer and guitarist Taylor Guarisco describes the band’s lifestyle and music: “being from the South, we have all learned how to slow down and appreciate life as it is here now — something that in most parts of the world is totally lost. All of this is directly reflected in every aspect of our music." …And how accurate that statement is. The rhythmically strong opening of the album opening gives way to slower jams that feature laid-back drum machine beats (“Noche Nada [A lot from me]” ) to picked guitar lines and carefully repeated melodies, and even a track that ventures into ska territory (“Ceiling of Plankton”).

So, what is the ultimate gift that the Givers wish to bestow with In Light? One could say it is the mixture of musical elements that we've come to know and love: indie afro-beat rhythms, Jack Johnson’s acoustic guitar-picking, easy-going melodies and harmonies, and the constant tempo change that rocks us back and forth, sans the seasickness side effects. The real gift that I’ve discovered, however, is the feeling of summer, the feeling of the sand between my toes, and of laying back and letting the music drift atop the waves. The lyrics of the song “Meantime” are the proper sum of everything:  “It comes, it goes, it washes away. Don’t get stuck in the meantime, no such thing as the meantime.”


REVIEWED BY JEREMY CALVO
JEREMY’S FAVORITE TRACKS: “Up, Up, Up” • “Meantime” • “Noche Nada (A lot from me)”

FREE MP3: “Up Up Up”