Ruby Suns, Cranberry

Ruby Suns - Cranberry (buy)

Two-part "Cranberry" opens with a sampled rhythm that is eerily similar to something we expect to hear from Animal Collective (see: "Into the Flowers"). Over it we hear vocals but no lyrics, and if we still listened to CD's this would be called "Cranberry (Prelude)." But we don't, so this extended introduction serves to complicate what is an otherwise tropical sounding pop song. There are major similarities between Animal Collective and Ruby Suns: their use of experimental, unidentifiable sounds; the buried pop structures.

In the radio-edit half of "Cranberry" the synth melody takes the place of what we once used guitars for, and their timbre is sea conch and steel drum. "Cranberry"'s combination of indie music technology and tropical rhythms serves as warning that summer is near. Will it make your friends happy at your next grill? Probably.

If it doesn't, get new friends for summer.


The photos come from their packed 3/26 show at Brooklyn Bowl, that Toro Y Moi opened.

Buy Fight Softly.