The Loving Sounds of Static

They Say...

Review by Heather Phares, All Music Guide

The Mobius Band's full-length Ghostly International debut, The Loving Sounds of Static, mines similar territory as their City vs. Country EP, although the album is less spacy and more rooted in guitar pop. As with the EP, the band worked with engineer Peter Katis, whose clients also include Interpol; The Loving Sounds of Static has more than a little of that band's sound -- especially in the rounded basslines and crisp drum hits -- although the Mobius Band's approach is much lighter and less dramatic. Their arrangements, which seamlessly integrate electronica into their indie rock (or possibly, vice versa), are also a lot more inventive. In fact, the Mobius Band may be best appreciated for how ably they can switch from live drums to tinny drum machines, or from guitars to glitchy synths, within their songs. Occasionally, The Loving Sound of Static's masterful production and arrangements tend to overshadow the actual songs, particularly on longer, less obviously melodic tracks like "Philadelphia" and "Doo Wop." On the other hand, when the band tries to rock out on "You're Wrong," it fights against their attention to detail and rather delicate vocals. The Mobius Band does better when they play to their strengths as a witty but heartfelt pop band, whether it's on the wry groove of the title track or the soaring choruses of "Radio Coup," which borrows a bit of the easygoing flair of mid-'90s indie rock. The band may be at its best when its sweetly sad and self-deprecating. The winsome "Twilight" and "Close the Door" mix cheap and cheerful sounds with earnest feelings, much like a less-twee Postal Service; lyrics like "I Just Turned 18"'s "Don't make no decisions/Mope around the house/Making new incisions" reveal a real heart beating underneath the album's electronic pulses. The worst that can be said about The Loving Sounds of Static is that it never sounds anything less than pretty: it's a solid debut album and definitely worth a listen for fans of the Postal Service or the French Kicks' later work.