In Bardo is the sophomore jaunt by Los Angeles-based electro indie pop group White Arrows. The band, whose sound was once described as "tropical crunk," further amplify their bright, pulsing dance vibes and shimmering synths, while adding a bit of moodiness and a dump truck's worth of compression into their melodious crunk cup. From the get-go, frontman Mickey Church contorts his voice into a garbled faux-soul affectation that feels macerated beneath the weight of the opening track's ("I Just Want a Taste") over-present synth bass and harsh snare splats. Sonically uncomfortable and poorly written, it's an odd choice to lead off the album when the hookier, though still bland, lead single "We Can't Ever Die" is waiting next in line, offering a more obvious introduction to the band's aesthetic. Pleasant melodies and creative little hooks aren't White Arrows' problem. Those are In Bardo's most intriguing assets, yet they fail to make up a whole and the resulting album is a bit of an empty vessel. There are bits of Vampire Weekend, MGMT, Active Child, and any number of popular indie acts in these 11 songs, but it's hard to tell who White Arrows are. The rampant pseudo-psych experimentation gives the impression of being clever, but it's not that different from what so many other contemporary indie bands of this ilk are doing. The sunny grooves of "Devil's Chimes" are a high point and there are a few other moments scattered throughout, but as a whole, In Bardo comes across as rather insincere and Jimmy Messer's aggressive production quickly becomes grating without the songs to back it up.
© Timothy Monger /TiVo