San Francisco’s four-piece Aluminum released the single Spinning Backwards b/w As Big As You Are in 2020 and the EP Windowpane in 2022, so it only makes sense that they now return with full-length debut album Fully Beat under their belt. You can label this superb music as indie rock, dream pop, post-punk, big beat or shoegaze, but that doesn’t do justice to the versatility of this record – all of these styles come together in an inimitable way, impressive and intriguing work by Marc Leyda (vocals, guitar, sampler), Ryann Gonsalves (vocals, bass), Austin Montanari (guitar) and Chris Natividad (drums). They themselves mention Orbital, Wipers, The Avalanches and Sly and the Family Stone as influences, but I think we can safely add My Bloody Valentine, Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Primal Scream. For example, listen to lead single Behind My Mouth, in which a Madchester groove goes together with a hip-hop-like drum beat, samples and irresistible hazy vocals. There’s a lot going on on this album, with pop-sensitive melodies, a tight rhythm section, attractive male-female harmonies, and surprising twists and turns, which we will enjoy for a long time.
Fully Beat, recorded & mixed by Marc Leyda, is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Felte Records.