Viva Voce's 2011 release
The Future Will Destroy You is an expansive and somewhat slow-burning mix of the indie rock, psych rock, and pop sounds they've delved into over the years.
Viva Voce have always evinced an interest in the kind of garage rock meets baroque pop aesthetic of such acts as
Yo La Tengo and
Sparklehorse, and fans will be happy to know that not much has changed here. Once again centering on the married duo of singer/guitarist Anita Robinson and drummer Kevin Robinson, tracks like the
Yo La Tengo-ish "Analog Woodland Radio" and atmospheric lo-fi dance number "Diamond Mine" are perfect afternoon car-trip tracks that find vocalist Robinson evincing something like a combination of
Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval and
Stevie Nicks. Similarly, the country-inflected "Black Mood Ring" keeps the
Fleetwood Mac meets
Luna vibe going, and the late-album epic "A Viking Love Song" is a great cinematic light-show mood piece. ~ Matt Collar