It’s been referred to as slippy, incoherent, loose, and unattached. But, more accurately, Chaz Bundick’s newest record release, said flaws and all, finds much success. Bundick’s work, better known under the professional name Toro y Moi, is often thrown into the mix of those artists referred to as “chillwave” from the summer of 2010. Hailing from South Carolina, indie rock front man Chaz has released two albums, the first in January of 2010, the second, most recent, in February.
Toro y Moi has been compared to bands such as Neon Indian and Ernest Greene, also know as Washed Out. It has a dance music element and steady beats, sounding something like an old cassette tape with raw musical roots. There is an electronic element to the music, and an audience can’t knock Bundick’s skill with lyrics. It’s a lot of love, with an element of grace, mixed into oddities of synthesizers.
“Underneath the Pine,” Toro y Moi’s most recent album, resembles the synth movement of the first album “Causers of This,” holding onto the flowing beats, loose falsetto lyrics, and dreamy foundation. Bouncing knees and body movement are inescapable. The album’s single “Still Sound” reflects an electronic funk. “I-I-don’t-don’t-want-want-to-to-be-be-a-a-l-l-lone.” The lyrics make it evident. Bundick’s a softy. And he’s electric in letting it all out through rhythms.
In the future, Bundick is working to collaborate with other artists, remixing work (similar to the remix for Tegan and Sara, titled “Alligator”) and producing a more dynamic range of his own pieces. On tour now, Toro y Moi can be found closest to Missoula in Seattle, WA on March 27thand in Portland, OR, two days earlier, on the 25th. But, seeing Chaz or not, it’s a couple of albums to look into and yank in a little early summer vibrations.