Swim
Album | Caribou
One foot on the dancefloor, one in the chill-out room.
Jimi Hendrix supposedly once told an engineer he wanted a particular guitar part to sound like it was underwater, then on playback stipulated "No, more like blue water." Hendrix would have dug Caribou's Swim. Dan Snaith claims the album's sound was inspired by his newfound passion for swimming; indeed, as opposed to the sun-drenched, wide-open sound of Andorra, Swim favors a decidedly underwater feel, a tactile, intimate vibe that oscillates between cozy and claustrophobic. Early buzz that Swim was Snaith's full-fledged return to dance music is not quite correct, however. The album is certainly less overtly poppy than the '60s-influenced Andorra, parts of which sounded like the Left Banke given a 21st century indie-electronic makeover, but even dancefloor-oriented grooves like first single "Odessa" and pulsating minimalist tracks like "Kalil" and "Found Out" feature Snaith's falsetto vocals, catchy melodies and memorable hooks. That may not be enough for the crossover fans seduced by Andorra's intoxicating breakout hit "Melody Day," but it makes for an entertaining listen whether you're out on the floor or sitting still.
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