Re-Arrange Us

It is always surprising to see a group of musicians do a lot with a little. Mates of State, a husband and wife, piano and guitar duo, have been able to make an open sound that allows them to explore musically without sounding tired. The resulting sound is simply delightful. The group, made of Kori Gardener on pianos and synths, and Jason Hammel on drums and percussion, have a setup much like a cheery, airy Dresden Dolls.

A real centerpiece on this album is the sung duos. Hammel and Gardener have similar tonal qualities to their voices, and at a hasty listen, one might think that one singer on the album overdubbed vocals. The harmonies they sing and the songs they write are upbeat and peppy, but also touching and even sad enough to not irritatingly saccharine. The band likes to play the "loud-soft-loud" game, where for certain choruses and verses, the emphasis switches from a layered orchestral sound to a break that focuses on vocal harmonies. This is a fine album, and hopefully an indication of better things to come.