F Yeah: Frickin' Yes in the Summertime

High Places

Not sure if the phrase “turd in the punch bowl” gets used anymore, but at least in regard to F Yeah Fest, High Places are, like, the opposite of that. In contrast to the aggressive, shit-kicking tenor of many F-ing bands, this Williamsburg duo’s simple songs consist of little more than Mary Pearson’s coy, slightly flat melodies, and waterlogged drum machines. Recently signed to Thrill Jockey off the strength of their singles collection, 03.07-09.07, High Places are set to drop their debut LP in October. If you liked the former, the new one contains 40 more minutes of a similar thing, but with better production and more cleanly enunciated roots in the soca music of Trinidad and Tobago and Asian peninsular music. (Ian Cohen)

Hisham Bharoocha

High Places: Coy melodies and waterlogged drum machines

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• Abe Vigoda
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