Northeastern alternative pair Javelin have a fresh 10-track record that was released March 5. These musicians fuse elements from many genres such as hip-hop and indie rock, melded with electronic moments.
Hi Beams begins with “Light Out,” an ‘80s pop-influenced catchy number laced with soprano vocals and a foundation of strings. This cut has much in common with the movement of the genre of indie rock currently save for the singer, whose sonic imprint mimics that of the falsetto of The Beach Boys.
“Nnormal,” the band’s latest single, gears up with a weighted bassline that rattles alongside a hip-hop-inspired beat. Throughout the track, there’s an assortment of experimental digital and instrumental sound bites, as well as vocal distortion, which makes for an over-the-top piece that comes across in a good way. Javelin have a talent for taking a song with a basic musical structure and bringing it to the next level with their unique method of blending embellishments. On the fifth number, “Friending,” a bouncy synth pattern takes control of the cut. This one is a precise fusion of alt rock with a sequence of rhythmic beats dictating the direction of the song.
Within “City Pals,” the group goes back to their origins with a synth-incorporating indie pop flare that sticks. The chorus of the three-minute piece climbs up and down with the singer’s voice jumping around in range as an auto-tune-like effect cloaks his signature sound. “Garth Hudson” mellows out all of the wildness that the duo brings onto the album, as it is a floating instrumental song.
Hi Beams is an interesting listen, never dull, and ever-changing. Javelin will have any listener pleasantly surprised.
In A Word: Adventurous
