Today, we continue backtracking through March with Figmore’s Jumbo Street, and LOMELI’s Slow Scene Familiar; easily two of our most anticipated albums of 2021, even relatively early on. These albums are distinct, but compliment each other and pair well. As we move towards summer and longer days, and as evenings become ripe for entertaining, both of these projects could easily become staples. We also have another lost Best Stuff I Heard This Week from 3/19/21, this week with notes from three of the songs.

Figmore - Jumbo Street

Figmore, out of Los Angeles, is a duo consisting of vocalist JUICEBOX and producer 10.4 rog. The two have come together to create a tremendous indie pop album.

Jumbo Street oscillates between a sultry vacation on beaches with gentle waves and a hazy summer night in the city, conjuring up comparisons to the likes of Bibio or Neon Indian. It marries electronic and natural sounds that create a dream-pop environment that harkens back to 2011. Songs like “Rosie” the album’s second track, put forward a bubbly, sunny disposition bringing together lo-fi with sharp synths. This is also true for tracks that appear later on the album like “Hey You,” bringing easy comparison to indie icons of a decade ago like Teen Daze, Daedelus, or the aforementioned Bibio.

Then there are lounge songs like “Wormhole Teatime” and “Black Velvet,” with their jazzy, low-key foundations featuring cymbals that just ride. “Black Velvet” features spoken word vocals paired with reverb that could have been right off of Digable Planet’s Reachin’. The song ends with an extended instrumental that approaches something that resembles the chillwave, ambiance of Tycho with a few of the details you might normally get from Neon Indian.

“Cherry-go-round” is the first song that is a lock for a hot day at the beach with a cool beverage (you can see it – sweat on your forehead and condensation on your drink in your hand). Also in this mold are “The Tale of the Rattlesnake,” “Mr. Barreleye,” “No Clue,” and “Practice.” All five tracks are airy and breezy – with “Mr. Barreleye” channeling a funky sensuality reminiscent of – could it be true? – Earth Wind and Fire. The other four are impressive in their own right while being some combination of of Washed Out and Wild Nothing.

The sounds of water, along with a melody anchored by sharp synths gives “Nature,” more of the electronic, hypnogogic pop vibes of Neon Indian we’d previously gotten a glimpse of with “Black Velvet.”

Several songs are more singular and stand apart from the rest. “Amor en la Television” is an interesting track, because it straddles two different moods as well as two different languages. Holding court in both the “tropical beach” and “summer night” vibes, the track gives JUICEBOX all the space he needs to serenade us in both English and Spanish.

Another track that distinguishes itself it “Home.” I’m beginning to feel like, as a rule, any record with that name is going to be great (see “Home” by Caribou, “Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and – this might be unpopular but – “Home” by Phillip Phillips). Jumbo Street’s “Home” is really the only song on the album that makes heavy use of hip hop style beats. As JUICEBOX sings lines like, “my landlord is a douche,” you get to the two artists having a little bit fun.

Jumbo Street is a wonderful album that will play well at whatever social events we’re allowed to enjoy in the coming months. Each track has the ability to play a leading role at any given time, but also won’t overpower the moment and demand attention. It finds a kindred spirit with LOMELI’s Slow Scene Familiar.

LOMELI - Slow Scene Familiar

Slow Scene Familiar mixes together some of the same elements of Jumbo Street – electronic and indie pop – along with dance and indie rock elements for a complimentary but different effect. LOMELI shows off the musical range of Toro y Moi, but does it over the course of a single album rather than a discography spanning eight studio albums. It’s sexy… it’s chic… and it too, is here for good summer vibes.

The album actually opens in a way that might be jarring to people who are familiar with some of LOMELI’s previous releases. “Data/Body” is a song heavy on rock with a hard, guitar edge.” As it turns out, this track is probably the furthest outside of what you’d expect to hear, but it still sets the precedent that the album will be shape shifting and different. This gives way to the previously released single, “Came in Through a Window,” juxtaposing the leading track’s unknown with the familiar and the comfortable. It features some brilliant piano play down the stretch that gives the song an interesting mood change for its second act.

“You Were Right About The Motions” captures the chillwave sensations of Washed Out and marries them with some of the whimsy of Skylar Spence. As much as he may resemble other stalwarts of the genre, LOMELI, real name Isaac Lomeli, is differentiated by his use of hip hop production elements that aren’t always used across the chillwave backdrop. This is evident in songs like “Comfort, Stall,” “Slow Scene Familiar,” and “Hours Spent.”

“Slow Scene Familiar” begins a paradigm shift where the album begins a distinctly poppy movement. It’s that sound along with hip hop influences that bring effortless, perhaps even lazy, comparison to RAC, but the comparison becomes even more apt when you arrive at “Hours Spent.” It lacks a certain quirkiness that is baked into every RAC track, but the similarities are apparent quickly. “Life and Echo” trades in the hip hop influence for touches of disco, but maintains the indie pop protocol and warm weather, lounge sensibilities. “Life and Echo” may be the jewel of the entire project, with it’s sophisticated sensibilities and refined vocals working beside a beautifully nuanced production. More generally, these three songs work well together and provide the album with a high point, although there really are no low points.

“I Could See You Reaching For Someone,” goes in an interesting direction, combining elements of indie rock and post-punk revival, followed by the minimalist production of “End/M. Swann.” Austere composition makes the song a great vehicle for the L.A. product to flex his vocal abilities.

Slow Scene Familiar reaches across several genres including indie pop, electronic, and dance with notes of funk. It’s an example of a musically ambitious album with zero dull spots. It’s an excellent album with a radiant shine. Along with Figmore’s Jumbo Street, these two projects promise excellent vibes for the warm weather ahead.

The Best Stuff I Heard This Week 3/19/21

This brings us to another lost edition of The Best Stuff I Heard This Week…

Lou Phelps - “Must Be”

Hatian-Canadian rapper Lou Phelps brings upbeat energy, percussion, and a whole lotta great rhymes with his single “Must Be.” There’s no two ways about it, “Must Be” is a party song, and it might be coming out a few months early given the fact that we’re still limited in what we can do, but if you’re getting after it with your friends on a beach somewhere, let this one ride. It may come from snowy Canada, but it belongs on South Beach.

The Undercover Dream Lovers - “Maybe It’s Just Rare”

Just like Phelps with “Must Be,” The Undercover Dream Lovers bring infectious energy on their latest single “Maybe It’s Just Rare.” It’s a casual, bubbly jam that makes us think of warm vistas and parties with people dressed in white. I guess I really have Miami on the brain this week, what can I say? It features electronic sensibilities that are a throw back to when the genre actually had a melody… those glorious days before EDM. In any event, the L.A. based band has us feeling like we’re dancing on a cloud and we really love it.

Furious Stylesz - “Husky”

This one is included ENTIRELY because it’s about UConn basketball. Samford’s Furious Stylesz created an anthem just in time for March Madness. It’s a dark production that makes you feel ready to charge into battle, take the Big East crown, then go on a tear that leads to the National Championship. It’s motivational, so if you’re not a Division 1 basketball player in Storrs, Connecticut, it might be good to add to your workout playlist - it’ll help you grind out that last set.

The Complete Playlist: BSIHTW 3/19/21

Michael Stroneski, editor at mvsicthovght, has started several blogs and multi-media projects you’ve never seen. He is a life-long cheerleader for Connecticut and underground music. You can reach him at contact@mvsicthovght.com.