About a year ago I was stumbling through the lists of artists that were currently being blogged about on Hype machine and one band in particular struck a chord with me. That band being Givers which has generated a lot of buzz considering their sound is a mix between Dirty Projectors, Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot. The five-piece Lafayette- based band is known for their explosive on stage performances that feature a mixture of shimmering guitars, and their ambitious execution with instrumentation. Their official debut In Light, pay homage to these bands but in a different direction that is entirely their own.
In Light is clearly a summer 2k11 album, and Givers wants you to know this right from the get-go. The albums opener “Up Up Up” which made its debut on their self-titled and self-released 2009 EP has been re-recorded and this particular version has a more lively and energetic feel. With its sunny guitars, pulsating drum kicks, hand claps that highlight the broad flavors that Givers puts into their music. “Ceiling of Plankton” which was also present on their self-released EP has been re-recorded as well, the overall tempo has been slowed down just a tiny bit, but the overall sound is more direct and uplifting. The percussion is focused, the Glockenspiel is more prominent and the synths have been cleaned up. The emotions that it brings out are ones that leave the listener feeling warm and bubbly and yearning for more.
For the most part In Light retains the exuberant giddy emotions similar to that of a ten-year-old at Christmas, with the exception of the albums 7:25 minute ballad “Go Out all Night” that’s as though it would be the closer if it were performed live, but then concludes with what you could call an encore with “words” that gives the album it’s final burst of energy. What Givers does is stick to what they know their audience wants which is music that is upbeat, joyous and booty shaking which isn’t entirely bad especially for a band that has so much potential to grow.
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