While it might be tempting to write this enterprise off as another of many Radiohead tributes, the album’s far too nuanced and interesting to squarely categorize. After “Not the End”’s shoegazey, textured drumming and “Nostalgia”’s chiming Americana, “Dirty Industry” slurps and sizzles with guttural, low-end bass and synths that approach learned dubstep.
Davidson’s songwriting isn’t to be overlooked, either. “My eyes are open to all the problems / Maybe that’s my problem,” he wonders over lost sleep in “Eyes to Hope.” It seems an earnest confession amid the murky sonic haze around it, reminiscent of Radiohead’s warmer, more human sentiments on “In Rainbows.”
I think Two Suns is at its best when it locks into these great, snare-driven, minimalist grooves. “Ran Wild” proves the cream of this crop, chugging along in three distinct, beautiful parts.
At 10 tunes, “Dream Familiar” is being released one track at a time at the act’s Bandcamp page. Readers can keep up with the progress on our music blog, OKSee. —Matt Carney
This article appears in Jan 25-31, 2012.