Wild Quiet

Deepak Mantena shifts gears for album number three. The Illegal Art sample-heavy artiste (who's toured with mashup expert Girl Talk) forgoes the dance floor for the bedroom with this reflective, singer/songwriter-like release. With verses, choruses, and lead vocals dipped in reverb, Mantena captures the joy of shoegaze pop with his cheerful and deliberately messy and overstuffed arrangements. "Oregon" practically sounds like it was recorded off the radio, with density and fuzziness suggesting a certain amount of professional distance. The title track cruises through the '80s and '90s with arpeggiated synths, bouncy rhythms, and harmonious disco-fied vocals finding a soothing home. There's a touch of indie pop to the tunes. "Indian Summer" adds an eerie undertow. Mantena cites Bradford Cox as an inspiration here, but he never ventures near that level of seriousness. Sure, "Growing Pains" has a level of maturity on its mind, but there's a joyous party atmosphere lurking in the background that suggests Mantena is on break, sure to rejoin the celebration already in progress.