Soundpool
Dichotomies + Dreamland (aloft)
release: March 11, 2008
style: shoegaze, dream pop, ambient pop
similar: All Natural Lemon and Lime Flavors, Mahogany, Swallow, Stereolab
[rating: ***1/2] The second album from Soundpool--perfect name for its, well, sound--bubbles up from the foundation of ethereal pop laid forth by the Cocteau Twins, tweaking it and adding keyboard and electronics. The lead female vocalist resembles Slowdive's Rachael Goswell in appearance with nearly the voice to match. There's all sorts of wild guitar effects and shimmering textures that will keep you guessing as to what they are using. This enables them to be one step ahead of the average peer. The dance beats are taken out of the manual for mbv's "Soon," updating it for 2008. -Kenyon