Elephant - Sky Swimming
- Written by Carris Boast
- Media
Amelia Rivas and Christian Pinchbeck make up dreamy beach pop duo Elephant. With one foot firmly outside of the box they formed whist studying back in 2010 and began to make music with a £10 charity shop bought Casio. Now using a guitar, a keyboard and wondrous vocals, Elephant capture the feeling of relaxation and bottle it in musical wonder that is Sky Swimming.
Rivas and Pinchbeck's weary-pop melodies float seamlessly between delicate keys and synthesis. Rivas wispy vocals harmonize and dissolve into high pitch rhymes that capture the feeling of falling down a rabbit hole. The cool tone of ‘Shapeshifter’ drips into a wave of strings that harnesses the sunny glow of fellow band Summer Camp.
Sky Swimming is an album for romantics. The wistful notes move freely, almost lost with no direction like walking through a wood at midnight. ‘Shipwrecked’ and ‘Torn Tongues’ hum is quite ominous. Smokey backing vocals and weirdly edited chorus in ‘Shipwrecked’ adds a gothic undertone to what seems sugary sweet.
‘Torn Tongues’ is one of the most memorable songs on the album. The catchy chorus flickers like a flame in the darkness. Pulsating keys flounce around shedding a ray of light onto bizarre lyrics. Immersive vocals sit predominate throughout the album. The well-crafted instrumentals at times seem forgotten about under the harmonies created.
‘Exclusive Youth’ is one of the more playful tracks on the album. Rivas’ voice jumps from peculiar lyrics to delicate wails. Allusive synthesis and pitchy keys add a sense of nostalgia to a soulful '60s pop sound. The vocals are almost hypnotic as they dance with the glittering string arrangement in ‘Golden’.
Amelia Rivas’ vocals are tainted with a whitewash of melancholy brittle haziness. Each songs sound is mirrored and reflects another which at times makes it hard to differentiate between the tracks. The delicate vocals and sorrow filled lyrics in track ‘Come To Me’ could shape clouds on a loved-up picnic for two.
Sky Swimming is a great album to begin with for Elephant and does indeed capture the duo's contemplative sound. Lavish vocals melt into washed up piano keys in homage to retro pop. At times it lacks the distinctive pleasure that comes with most favourable debuts. Sky Swimming is a gentle breeze instead of a windy gale, which may cause it to be undeservedly overlooked.
Sky Swimming is available from iTunes here or from amazon via the link in the Media section below.
