The Highland Park-based dream pop outfit San Tropez will play in support of their passionate five-song debut EP, “Lila,” on March 20 at The Asbury Soundbooth in Asbury Park and April 11 at Pino’s, their hometown haven for original bands. PHOTO BY JOHN OSBORN
Highland Park-based San Tropez describe themselves as an “American dream pop” band, but they actually seem to incorporate many British elements into their music, including Pink Floyd, David Bowie, The Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen and Oasis. There also are references to the good ol’ American noise of Pavement and Sonic Youth on the band’s five-song debut EP, “Lila.”
The collection kicks off with the sonic emotional bludgeoning of “Tender and High.” The tale about a heartbreaking dream is a cross between the haunting, emotional atmospherics and rhythmic passion of The Cure and the noisy, edgy soundscapes of Pavement.
“Pleasant Present,” a mash up of the entreating sonic pop of Oasis’ “Wonderwall” and David Bowie’s grandiose anthem “Heroes,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Pleasant Present” can be heard at 5 and 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and midnight daily through Wednesday at thepenguinrocks.com and 6:45 p.m. on Friday and Monday on its “Radio Jersey” show.
But the standout track actually is the closer, “Stacks of Windows,” a mighty mammoth aural epic magnificently layered by Phil Connor at his New Brunswick studio, In the West. The menacing cacophony of cyclone- and robot-sounding guitars and rumbling rhythms is the perfect battle cry of a war between gods and monsters.
Also recorded at Lakehouse Studio in Asbury Park, “Lila” also features “Real Pollution,” which brings an edginess to a Pink Floyd vibe, especially “The Wall” tracks “Comfortably Numb” and “Hey You,” and The Cure-like and Echo & the Bunnymenesque rhythmically dense passion of “Time Is War.”
Featuring members of such classic New Brunswick bands as The Wreaths, Sparks Fly from a Kiss, kiaro skuro, Duochrome, Magic Mountain, The Stuntcocks, Urchins, Angular Brothers, the local super group will perform March 20 at The Asbury Soundbooth with Whispers, String Kings and Alex Julia. On April 11, they’ll play Pino’s, their hometown haven for indie rock, as well craft beer and fine wine.
Bob Makin is a reporter for MyCentralJersey.com and the former managing editor of The Aquarian Weekly, which launched this column in 1988. Contact him at [email protected]. And like Makin Waves on Facebook.
