[rating=3.50]
In today’s world of indie rock Harley Davidsons, Cryptacize is a tricycle, albeit one pimped out with cherry red paint and chrome that shines on the cloudiest of days. The California-born trio – Nedelle Torrisi, Chris Cohen and Michael Carreira – have uncovered their glistening sonic simplicity with it’s full-length debut Dig That Treasure, a plinking, plunking, bare-bones series of harmonious flirtations.
Dig That Treasure opens with the airy, minimalist “Stop Watch,” underscored by bubbly reverb. “Heaven is Human” is a dodgy number that finds guitar jabs countering Torrisi’s polished vocal advances. Cohen leads the trio through the disjointed “How Did the Actor Laugh?” and the counterintuitive amble of “We’ll Never Dream Again,” further digging into the band’s treasure trove.
Despite its collective simplicity, Cryptacize fills Dig That Treasure with challenging passages that shift and saunter across each of the 11 tracks. Familiarity is fleeting here, and even after multiple listens, Cryptacize continues to dodge expectations. The eccentric approach helps Dig That Treasure retain a fresh glimmer time and time again; a glowing reflection of unblemished paint and polished chrome.
