She's So Rad are a duo with wonderful musicality. They are adventurous with their sound palette, but understand that strong melodies and genuine feeling are what they need to underpin all that inventiveness. Tango, their second excellent album, somehow manages to be both upbeat and moody, creating a shimmering, pulsating, dreamy 10-track collection, which grows out of easy grooves on some tracks and driving tension on others. The pair, Jeremy Toy and Anji Sami, take turns on vocals, or combine their powers to great effect.
Toy's long been a My Bloody Valentine fan, but here he takes that heartfelt fuzziness and combines it with some hip-hop-esque production qualities, rock 'n' roll grandeur, and melodic lushness. Opener Levels has an irresistible nostalgic beat, and a tight ear-worm vocal; Cool It is a perfect blend of new wave and nonchalance; and Sami sounds beautiful on Reason, accompanied by wandering bass lines and synths.
Say The Word, which features David Dallas, presents a heavier side, while Away has a blooming dark-night groove which offsets the slightly playful vocals. Sewn Up Sunrise knits some tasty drumming with nebulous sounds. A treat for your ears.
