Mild High Club
Skiptracing
Reviewed by: Lauren Rosier
Last fall’s debut, Timeline, was Alex Brettin’s first under his solo moniker, Mild High Club. Less than a year later, he’s introducing his sophomore effort, Skiptracing.
Once a tourmate of Canadian indie rock singer/songwriter, Mac DeMarco, Brettin’s debut was nostalgic, with his influences from the ’60s and ’70s. On Skiptracing, those influences are still clearly there; however, the delivery and artistry is much more pulled together into an identity uniquely his own.
The eponymous opener has a low key beat decorated with a great bass line and contains lines of jammy cowbell for your listening pleasure. The album strategically places the most cohesive songs at the front end which prepares you for the heavenly, hazy, and psychedelic trip that keeps you smiling and floating through the very last note. Much of the album contains snippets of incandescent indie rock similar to artists like Tame Impala, Washed Out, and Wild Nothing.
The sunny groove of “Tesselation” brings back the sounds of ’60s era musicians. Brettin is successfully able to create a record that still has classic sounds, but with a clearer vision and identity. Overall, Mild High Club created a good collection of songs that makes up an improved sophomore effort.
Rating: Listenable
