Coco - S/T
Coco’s story is intertwined with the unique circumstances of the times we live in. Looking to keep themselves busy, the three members began collaborating from their respective homes in different parts of the country, meeting every few weeks to further flesh out their creations and continue writing. Starting in early 2020, the trio slowly started releasing music, keeping their identities a secret, stressing on their Bandcamp that this project “not about who we are; it is not meant to magnify our personas.” This mystery created some intrigue, as early tracks like “Last of the Loving” and “One Time Villain,” left many wondering who exactly was behind these gorgeous creations. That all changed with the release of their fourth single, “Knots,” back in August, when they revealed themselves as Maia Friedman (Dirty Projectors, Uni Ika Ai), Dan Molad (Lucius, Chimney), and Oliver Hill (Pavo Pavo, Dustrider). With the cat now out of the bag, we’ve gotten more of an opportunity to understand how the melding of their musical personalities resulted in the ten songs that comprise their self-titled debut, which is out today via First City Artists on AWAL.
Coco sounds and feels like a perfect combination of each member’s unique musical identity, with each contributing their own traits to create a new, distinguishable entity. Friedman, Molad, and Hill all have very sharp senses when it comes to crafting aurally gratifying pop music that veers into the dense and experimental, but not far enough to cause distraction. The trio takes the mantra of using their voices as instruments quite seriously, as nearly every song showcases their harmonious melodies in some way, with the aforementioned “Last of the Loving” and “Knots” serving as some of their finest vocal moments. The way they do it sounds truly effortless. The instrumentation is almost always dewy, soothing, and airy, but not lacking in girth. And while the trio’s voices and soft rhythms may hypnotize you, they pick up the pace at some key moments, including the record’s middle track, “One Time Villain,” which moves a bit more briskly without detracting from the overall vibe. Things end on a similar note with “Anybody’s Guess,” which waxes and wanes, reaching some emotive heights when a series of light strings intersect with their voices.
You can listen to the record in its entirety below!
Stream Coco’s self-titled debut on your platform of choice, including Spotify. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram, liking them on Facebook, and checking out their website.
