America Del Sur – »America Del Sur« (Rack & Ruin Records)

Postpunk Teenage Surf Twang // There we go with a record very likely to enter my 2008 top ten! Rock-orientated Netaudio has become rather usual these days, but this precious lo-fi gem is something special. Brian Wilson-style vocal melodies, jazzy chords on guitars that sound like metal-rimmed glasses and a lot of (North) American Indiepop a la Pavement is what these kids have to offer.

America Del Sur (“America of the South”) is basically Phil Cardona and Taylor Ross. Friends from high school days back in Jacksonville, Florida, the band released their self titled debut at Rack & Ruin, a Dutch Netlabel online since early 2008 but with a back catalog of +70 records already.

Here, number 64 is the one you definitely need to know. Cardona and Ross manage to mix angst-ridden Indierock (“Evil Pop”) and sophisticated white boy Jazzpop (“I Don’t Know You”) like a duck takes to water. Their drums sound like shit, the guitars are tied just beneath the chin very probably. There is some Surf in there. But just like for recent NYC darlings Vampire Weekend, it’s the fine vocal harmonies that keep the whole thing going- and America Del Sur at heavy rotation in my player. Ace.

America Del Sur – »America Del Sur« (Rack & Ruin Records)

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