Tomihirfa- Play Dead

Culling inspiration from notable post-punk/alternative acts that include The Cure, New Order, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Radiohead, San Francisco's Tomihira distill their influences, both retro and recent, into a dynamic and impressive modern alternative/indie blend on their full-length debut, Play Dead. The band's chiming, interweaving guitar work, retro synth sound, and vocalist Dean's almost Tim Booth-esque delivery paint a spectacular, sonically consistent tapestry amid songs that range stylistically from up-tempo indie rockers like the New Order-esque "World Class" to lovely rock ballads like the lush "All to be Undone". Well produced, the occasional tape/instrument hiss aside, and exceptionally well written and performed, it's a noteworthy foray into retro/modern indie territory.

Play Dead is almost consistent enough to make choosing standouts rather difficult. In fact, about half the album is easily single-worthy. The aforementioned "World Class" and "All to be Undone" certainly make the cut, as does the bass-driven rock of "Pillbox", the catchy, energetic "Loveubye", and "Never to Return" and "Snowcan", both lovely guitar rock ballads. That said, there really aren't any weak tracks here, even the under-two-minute, poppy "Hey There" being a full song with more than its share of musical merit.

Emotive, catchy, and energetic, sometimes alternately, at other times concurrently, Tomihira's Play Dead certainly shines. With both influences and comparable artists running a fairly wide gamut that encompasses both 80s new wave icons and 90s alternative heavy-hitters, it's a very strong debut with a compelling sound that's likely to appeal to a relatively diverse audience.