Rating: NNN
San Cisco’s eponymous debut is so bright, it would be cloying if it weren’t so dang catchy in places, and lyrically endearing in others. But then, this indie-pop foursome hails from the perpetual summer of Western Australia. And for all its saccharine, boy-girl singalongs, it earns edgy cred by dipping often enough into British post-punk territory.
San Cisco’s strength lies in not using the same tricks on every tune. Beach has the wonderful muddy drum machines of 80s pop, Nepal is rooted in minor piano chords, Stella bobs with plucky, perky guitar and gets progressively more intense. Sometimes they are very MGMT, but at times they recall Glaswegian indie rockers the Fratellis. Songs go off in unpredictable directions, and the music and lyrics often have an improvised, hippie-dippy vibe. There are no genius insights in the band’s songs about love gained and lost, but, hey, it’s summer.
Top track: Beach