In mid 2010, Chazwick Bundick (the musician responsible for the popular chillwave act Toro y Moi) released the single “Leave Everywhere”. On it's own, it seemed like a perfect summer tune; but what was most notable about this release was the departure from Toro y Moi's signature electronic style. Vouching for traditional instruments instead, “Leave Everywhere” was a lo-fi song with a catchy, surf-rock inspired hook. Underneath the Pine expands on this path, further solidifying Bundick as a multi-talented musician with a thirst for production-heavy material.
That being said, Underneath the Pine is a fun collection of psychedelic songs with a considerable funk influence. The bass plays a heavy role on this album, and the synths – although still as prevalent as ever – are reinforced by guitar, piano, and acoustic drums. Compared to Toro y Moi's debut album, Underneath the Pine sounds much more natural and organic.
I have a hard time believing if this is a good thing though. While I do appreciate Bundick's versatility, his experimental side is easily the most interesting. Take for example “Good Hold”. With an incredible touch to detail, the latter half of the song feels like we're submerged underwater. It's essentially an acid trip that anyone can experience with headphones, a feat only accomplished by superior work in the studio. Here's where I give Bundick the most credit; this album couldn't have sounded much better, and the songs with the most production value flow remarkably smooth. “Intro Chi Chi”, the Eden-like album opener, features harmonic vocals, tropical drums, and a flawless bassline to wrap it all in place. It's short, sweet, and shows off the technical ability that Bundick is easily capable of.
This is not to say that his straightforward verse/chorus songs are the worst, but they're simply hit or miss in Bundick's case. Some of these songs groove hard (“New Beat”, “Go With You”) and others fall apart in their choruses (“How I Know”, “Got Blinded”). At moments, Bundick goes into two minute jams wielding his effect pedals. The outro to “Before I'm Done” ultimately saves the song from mediocrity with a well planned detour into reverb madness. When it all comes together, Underneath the Pine is uncertain at being consistently great, and despite having a collection of enjoyable tracks, it's just not good enough to get worked up about.“Elise”, the six minute album closer, has a funky bassline and satisfying vocal melodies. It has little to offer in the long run, but it's enjoyable while it lasts. In essence, "Elise" is a perfect example of what this album has to offer, and how far Toro y Moi has traveled.
3/5
Recommended Tracks: "Good Hold", "New Beat", "Intro Chi Chi"
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