A short year after releasing their debut, Dig That Treasure, California's indie pop quartet returns with Mythomania. With their first album Cryptacize became known for their stunning melodies, unusual arrangements, and inchoate ideas, but for a band with “cryptic” in their name, they are not keeping many secrets. The title itself suggests a tendency toward exaggeration, the truth being stretched to the point of being obscured completely. However, one truth remains unaltered: Cryptacize are just as charming as ever.
Cryptacize is the latest project of Chris Cohen, whose most notable work includes his stint as a guitarist in Deerhoof, which he left in 2006 to fully pursue his own project, The Curtains. Cohen was the only permanent member of The Curtains, but along the way he was joined by Nedelle Torrisi, who contributed background vocals with her unique voice. In 2007 The Curtains were put on the back burner and the pair focused all of their creative energy on crafting Cryptacize. Michael Carreira's addition to the group came about when the band randomly stumbled upon a YouTube video of him playing the cowbell. Soon after, the three recorded Dig That Treasure (named after a musical written by Cohen's father in the 1950s). Recently, the group united with bassist Aaron Olson, solidifying Cryptacize's core lineup. This relatively traditional set-up is fleshed out with contributions of various band members and guests on tambourine, autoharp, organ and a variety of other instruments, creating a sound on Mythomania that significantly deviates from that of your typical indie pop.
Opener “Tail & Mane” kicks off with an Animal Collective-like intro. Sped-up guitar, lively synth, and clopping drum beats fill in the background behind Torrisi's vocals, which tell a strange tale concerning the theft of a certain painting of a horse. Halfway through, Cohen mixes it up with a surf rock guitar solo. As usual, Torrisi's powerful vocal delivery is the main focus, complimenting Cohen's '50s R&B-style rhythms nicely. It's a solid start, and without a doubt one of the album's highlights.
In “What You Can See Is,” Cohen makes his first appearance on lead vocals. Though not as perky as Torrisi, his heavyhearted delivery provides a sense of balance on an otherwise upbeat album. The welcome addition of an autoharp flows nicely with Carreira's restrained ride cymbal and snare. Admittedly, the song feels slightly out of place coming immediately after the lively opening track, but overall it displays an interesting new facet of the group's sound.
“Blue Tears” continues the slow-fast pattern, but its lo-fi vocals and chamber rock style bring something new to the table. The contribution of Aaron Olson's bass and a touch of harpsichord benefit the track significantly, filling in the gaps between Torrisi's vocals and Cohen's twitchy guitar work.
“Galvanize” sees the band delving into piano-driven balladry. Here, Cohen and Carreira take a back seat, adding quirky touches now and then, but allowing Torrisi's vocals to drift to the forefront. Her voice is as dreamy as ever, heightened by the ambient organ that plays in the background. It's somewhat surprising that the song wasn't chosen to end the album, as it would have made for a powerful conclusion.
Instead, the album closes with “New Spell”. After a fairly dull intro, the song picks up speed as Cohen enters with his guitar sounding like a distorted buzz saw. Torrisi's voice is deceptively sweet as she addresses a deceitful lover whose lies have become painfully obvious. Despite its catchy chorus, drum corps-style foundation, and playful guitar solos, “New Spell” falls short as an album closer.
When looking at the big picture, not much has changed since Cryptacize's debut. However, although they still rely on the same basic formula, the addition of a few new elements on Mythomania brings the band one step closer to finding themselves. The album embodies the dreamlike potential of a pop album, and even with its inconsistencies, it is a solid collection of songs overall. For every bright and bold twinkle on the album, a placid one complements it, and in the end, you come out of Mythomania with a few intriguing stories and a handful of catchy melodies stuck in your head.
*Also, great news for all you vinyl heads out there: a Mythomania LP is available!
Track List1. Tail & Mane (3:21)
2. What You Can't See Is (3:34)
3. Blue Tears (2:53)
4. Mythomania (3:21)
5. The Loving Sun (2:59)
6. Gotta Get Into That Feeling (2:57)
7. One Block Wonders (3:44)
8. The Cage (2:38)
9. Galvanize (5:02)
10. I'll Take The Long Way (3:27)
11. New Spell (4:26)
