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  • Label:

    Boompa

  • Reviewed:

    July 30, 2013

Vancouver dark-pop quintet the Belle Game introduce "River" as a fairly standard and agreeable piece of indie rock, with chalky guitars that could be taken from the past decade of Walkmen records, the anachronistic hollowed-out reverb and waltz-time balladry of Cults, the plainspoken longing of Best Coast. The band sounds like they're trying to sneak up on you, or at least blend in enough to be sync-able.

Frontwoman Andrea Lo, however is not trying to sneak up on you, nor is she trying to blend in. "River" is her showcase, as it should be; her voice is an expansive, powerful instrument that demands to be noticed, driving the melody of "River" and turning a simple song of simple sentiments into showstopping, extroverted piece of musical theater.

[from Ritual Tradition Habit; out now via Boompa]