Tomboy “Moths”

10 Sep 2014 — Henry Schiller

We are certainly not afraid of pop, but it can still be somewhat daunting to write about a track that does not try to obscure its pop sensibilities behind a sham of electronica and ambience and, instead, wears them loudly and proudly on its sleeve. “Moths", the latest from Brooklyn duo Tomboy (Sarah Aument and William Shore), belongs to that latter group of demons. "Moths" is an electro-pop earsplash that both respects and subverts the contemporary presence of pop music. No, Aument’s clear and powerful vocals are not necessarily challenging any radio pop norms, but they do sound quite anomalous in a world of filtration, distortion, and trigger-happy studio subterfuge. 

The production on "Moths" is austere: the track's brunt is borne by sparse syncopated beats, which rest halfway between tonal and percussive, and as a result straddle a strange line between bedroom electronica and hip-hop. On the other hand, “Moths” sounds kind of like Homogenic-era Bjork as reinterpreted by AlunaGeorge. Though definitely more midsummer than early autumn, Tomboy give "Moths" enough flexibility to make a proverbial jump in a pile of leaves feel like a dive into a swimming pool.

Tomboy play Brooklyn’s Glasslands on September 23; their self-titled debut is out this fall.