Gemma Ray
(Bronzerat Records)
There it is. That moment. It's charming and unsettling. The ooh-wee-oohs on The Beach Boys' "I Get Around" perked things up in a comforting way; tucked into the back of Lights Out Zoltars! track "Fist On A Flower," they'll send shivers right down your spine. It's a perfect haunting highlight, punctuated by the flurry of toy pianos, Gemma Ray's multi-tracked chorus of one, and Ribot-y guitar echoes. Just as Bat For Lashes's did on "What's A Girl To Do" (oh those spooky drums), Ray teases with a familiar flavor before twisting it around to the dark underbelly.
The eeriness is tempered by a flair for the pop dramatic that can only bring Neko Case to mind. On opener "100 mph (in 2nd Gear)," Ray steps up the tension set by marching Spanish guitar and chimes, with a sultry desperation in her voice as she belts out the chorus. Sadly, too few tracks are as gripping and demand the same attention. Zoltar's only real misstep is the too cute "Tough Love," but the moody organs and fuzzed-out hollow body riffs ultimately pile up and start to run together.
Standout Tracks: "Fist On A Flower," "100 mph (in 2nd Gear)" ZACH BLOOM
