Not quite a one-man band but neither a full collective as such, Daytime Volume rotate around Jared Myers, who writes and sings all the songs; drummer Matthew Morgan handles the technical duties in turn. The end result on this debut album isn't a new step forward in rock & roll but it is something in rarer supply these days -- reflective, gentle indie rock instead of swelling symphonics and chorus group singalongs, though still reliant on full arrangements. The dark lounge/Western underpinnings on "Trouble Beyond the Fence" call to mind a calmer Walkabouts, not a bad thing at all. Myers' soft vocals are almost too wistful for their own good -- it's not an invalid approach, but he's not the most distinct vocalist in this style, and as a result it's almost more enjoyable simply to listen for the music throughout. The collective group has a knack for deft, detailed performances -- there's a sense of depth to songs like "Decorations," with its buried vocal swoons and carefully placed keyboards behind the thick drum parts, while "Everything Covered in Dust"'s Mellotron swells add just the right hint of the calmly epic to the overall song. Certainly it's sometimes all down to just one touch, like how the guitar on the chorus of "Traverse City" adds a thrilling air to a more downbeat song. Though The Day We Transposed is quietly promising instead of truly remarkable, it's still an enjoyable listen for those inclined to this kind of musical approach, and is a promising starting point for future work.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo