Zorch

Formed in Boston but seemingly out of somewhere in left field, the music of multi-instrumentalists Zac Traeger and Sam Chown of Zorch is best described as kaleidoscopic. Using a variety of instruments (including vintage modded keyboards, pedals, and an Omnichord), the experimental indie duo carves psychedelic pop songs out of mayhem, with Chown's rambunctious drumming providing the backbone for their uplifting vocals. Zorch's unique sound made them a hard group to explain in the early years (while dominated by keyboards, they were a far cry from synth pop and even though Dave Fridmann productions were an influence, symphonic pop didn't quite fit), but this uniqueness also made them an easy sell once they resettled in the live music capital of Austin, Texas in 2009, where their visual show stood out from the rest. They went on to win local music polls, and picked up praise from Paste, Spin, and Esquire magazines after the release of their first EP, Captain Bartok, in 2010. A limited-edition cassette, Cosmic Gloss/E.M.F., followed in 2011.