The tunes of Austin band Sasha & The Valentines are radio-friendly, but also legit. What's here on So You Think You Found Love?, the new record, is reminiscent of music from an era when bands like The Motels could get on the airwaves. This isn't necessarily a retro release, but it's similar to the output of acts from years ago, when alt-rock was better.
"Witches" and "Driving" favor a keyboard-centered approach, with Sarah Addi's vocals taking center-stage. "Flower" is more complex, with the effect being a tiny bit reminiscent of bands like Goldfrapp and Catatonia. Sasha & The Valentines prefer a straightforward approach that renders all of this stuff fairly accessible. "Cry All The Time" and Don't You Love Me", however, are the best things here, with the hooks really big ones, and the overall sound closer to the kind of thing people like to call dream-pop. Thankfully, Sasha & The Valentines don't get too lost in the effects and textures of these numbers, and instead focus on the big hooks amid all the layers of the production. Lots of So You Think You Found Love? is similar and all indicates a band worth following.
So You Think You Found Love? is out on Friday via Oof Records.
[Photo: JB Bergin]