Subscribe to RSSSoundcheck: Toro y Moi’s Underneath the Pine
Since releasing his first few demos back in 2007, Chazwick Bundick — better known by his stage name Toro y Moi — has been making waves in the low-fi electronic, or “chillwave,” movement. His first major release in 2010, Causers of This, was full of hipster-sounding electronic beats, attitude and overall sound.
In Underneath the Pine, Toro y Moi keeps the understated style he’s made himself known for in mind while expanding his creative talents in the production of his music.
A great deal of the album’s songs are made up of incredible-sounding instrumentation coupled with interesting ambient noises on the side. Tracks like “Before I’m Done” and “Light and Black” are undoubtedly easy-to-listen-to tracks you’ll find yourself lost in.
That said, however, Underneath the Pine‘s sound-mixing and composition strengths are clouded by a simple lack of a hook in the album’s music. Many of the songs tend to blend together because they lack any form of catchiness.
Though the lack of character within the album results in a bit of disappointment, Toro y Moi’s Underneath the Pine is far from a bad album because it is filled with pretty sounds and tracks to just chill to. It’s undoubtedly worth a long, relaxed listen.
Star Rating: 3/5 Stars
Recommended tracks: “Still Sound,” “Before I’m Done,” “Light and Black”
