Underneath the Pine by Toro Y Moi
LABEL: Carpark

Remember the summer of 2009? A certain little musician under the name Washed Out released “Feel It All Around,” three minutes and sixteen seconds of pure, uninhibited pleasure. And with that, an explosion of bedroom producers and musicians started a trend—or genre—cleverly donned (sometimes negatively) by music critics as chillwave. Under this new, smooth genre’s umbrella were/are artists like Teen Daze, Memoryhouse, Neon Indian, and the topic of this review, Toro Y Moi.

“Toro Y Moi’s coming of age into a band whose complexity juts out undeniably makes this album a must-have.”

Toro Y Moi is the creation of Chaz Bundick, a South Carolina native whose debut album, Causers of This (2010) epitomized the feelgood dancability of the chillwave genre. However, as music critics everywhere have seemed to conclude, chillwave has lost its zeal. For most critics, the once-pleasurable sound has become redundant, leaving Causers of This to be—arguably—the last good piece of chillwave.

So when Chaz announced the release of his latest album, Underneath The Pine, critics and listeners alike were wondering, “Is Chaz going to beat a dead horse with this?” In an interview with Pitchfork, Chaz stated that Underneath The Pine was going to be something different; it was going to be something not as chill.

Underneath The Pine is something different. Toro Y Moi’s sound is no longer completely comprised of ethereal electronics and other chillwave stereotypes (though there are still traces of it); alternatively, it’s taken on a grandiose amount of funky, organic rhythms, instead of the sample-based delicateness of Causer of This. Toro Y Moi’s latest is a complex collection of arpeggios, groovy basslines, and a new found sense of maturity. For Chaz, one couldn’t ask more from a sophomore release of this stature.

Now with a full band, Toro Y Moi is able to experiment with multiple instruments, layering them to perfection. This is best exemplified in the captivating instrumental piece, “Divina,” where a delightful organ rhythm is brought to life by an infectious bassline, a straightforward piano melody, and atmospheric electronics; they come together to form a conglomeration that brings your head above the clouds.

Toro Y Moi’s embrace of funk is evident throughout Underneath The Pine. In tracks like “New Beat,” nostalgia and a wistful 70’s feel have the ability to bring even the most obstinate hips to life.

   Toro Y Moi "New Beat" by carparkrecords

An underrated aspect of Chaz’s work is his lyricism, which has reached new heights with his band’s latest release. Despite the pleasing aesthetics of standout track “Still Sound,” Chaz reveals his pining for a feeling once had, “There was a finer life when you were with us here/ And we knew there was a next time/ That’s what I still want now/ Even if I’m here and I think that you won’t be waiting.”

Underneath The Pine is a superb collection of sounds, sentiments, and euphoria. Toro Y Moi’s coming of age into a band whose complexity juts out undeniably makes this album a must-have. With Underneath The Pine, Chaz and company have created an album to make listeners warm, electrified, and exhilarated for long summer nights, 80 degree temperatures, and a sense of coziness.


REVIEWED BY ADRIAN ROJAS
ADRIAN’S FAVES: “New Beat” • “Divina” • “Before I'm Done” • “Still Sound”
Read more from Adrian on his blog, On the Importance of Being Rash




+ Read the Groovemine AudioFile of Toro Y Moi

  Toro Y Moi - Still Sound (Voodoo Bear Remix) by carparkrecords