Release Date: April 24th, 2012
Since their debut full-length LP in 2005, San Francisco-based Loquat has only released two albums. After their 2008 release, Secrets of the Sea, keyboardist Ryan Manley and songwriter Earl Otsuka exited their relationship with the band. Remaining members, Kylee Swenson Gordon and husband Anthony Gordon recruited Chris Cooper and Chip Cosby to complete the group and return to music. During the recording of their third studio effort, We Could be Arsonists, Swenson Gordon faced the challenge of recording while pregnant which spanned almost the entire nine months. After the process, the group produced an impressive restructure.
After the long hiatus since highly-acclaimed Secrets of the Sea, the quartet has a lot to prove with a slant to impress a modernized pop crowd. We Could be Arsonists is more focused on a flashy production than lead-songstress’s lovely vocals. This angle seems appropriate because of Swenson Gordon’s baby bump and the two member swap. Following the more organically produced Secrets of the Sea, Loquats third release is effortlessly entertaining. Poppy electronic riffs of “Time Bending,” “We Are Arsonists” and “The Legion” are catchy as hell.
Title track, “We Are Arsonists” features Swenson Gordon’s feminine, yet edgy vocals in spiraling circles. Psychedelic guitar riffs echo in a dreamy state surrounding the hypnotic lyrics. Next track, “Monsters” showcases the pretty vocals seen more prominently in the group’s previous releases. This track is dreamy and lightly fluffed.
Distorted guitar and electro-rock melodies take over in “Rumbling.” The chick-rock anthem is reminiscent of angry 1990 girl bands. “Change of Scenery” follows suit with a lighter tone. Swenson Gordon lets her vocals shine in this album, shedding light on the vastness of her voice. She is even able to contribute to the piano-driven ballad “Kindling for Fire.” This track is deep and most easily translatable to Secrets of the Sea and 2005’s It’s Yours to Keep. But it’s the video-game intro of “Up Late,” that ensures Loquat is pulling all stops. The track is a wistful abyss of indie rock drum rolls and lullaby-like melodies. It is just enough dark, with a bouncy touch to really make the repeat button enticing.
Since the reconstruction of Loquat, the group reformed their style but didn’t lose the dreamy essence of their previous releases. It’s hard to be rigid, though, as it’s a seemingly different band all together. While the core still remains, and it obviously shows, the new contributions dusted in some new flavor. We Could be Arsonists isn’t as masterfully done as Secrets of the Sea, but it is a little more pleasing to listen to continuously.
Loquat – We Could Be Arsonists tracklist
- “Time Bending”
- “We Are Arsonists”
- “Monsters”
- “Seeds”
- “Rumbling”
- “Change of Scenery”
- “The Legion”
- “Walk Out”
- “Kindling for Fire”
- “Up Late”
