Electric brings a touch of optimism to indie music

‘ ‘ ‘ In the overcrowded arena of indie pop-rock, Electric Touch stands out with a refreshing… ‘ ‘ ‘ In the overcrowded arena of indie pop-rock, Electric Touch stands out with a refreshing energy and cheerfulness the genre lacks lately. ‘ ‘ ‘ The pop group is comprised of the unusual combination of three Texans ‘mdash; Christopher Leigh, Louis Messina Jr. and Ross Dubois ‘mdash; and a Brit, frontman Shane Lawlor, which, to say nothing of transcontinental influences, makes for some interesting accents in the group’s singing. ‘ ‘ ‘ The overall tone of the group’s self-titled debut album comes across as elated optimism, the majority of the songs upbeat in more than just tempo with life-affirming messages in ‘Saved’ and ‘Love in Our Hearts.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ The 10-track album represents an admirable marriage of lyricism and well-crafted melodies. The songs are nicely layered and mixed, refraining from going overboard on studio effects in favor of retaining a purity of instrumental musicianship. The bass in particular is killer. ‘ ‘ ‘ It creates an interesting medley of Southern twangs and British cadence on various tracks by the three other band members providing vocals to complement those of Lawlor. ‘ ‘ ‘ The message of ‘Don’t Be Afraid’ is crystal clear from the repetition of the track’s title interspersed with additional ‘don’t panic’s, yet manages to avoid being irritating and rock the redundancy thanks to a catchy melody. ‘ ‘ ‘ The pattern on most tracks tends to be simple slow intros that escalate into complex and entrancing melodies by mid-song. The kicky guitar riffs and enticing hooks are lighthearted pop-rock fun, but the lyrics go deeper. While not profound across the board, much of the lyrics are significantly more meaningful than that of Electric Touch’s contemporaries. ‘ ‘ ‘ The only darker moments come about in ‘Who Put the Fire Out?’ which raises the questions of, ‘Who took the cradle and made it into a grave? / Who decides which sinners are sent to be saved’ amid vaguely hostile political overtones and the slightly lackluster ‘Breakdown” (Break it down / Build it up / Build it up / Breakdown) . ‘ ‘ ‘ Still the album remains one of the least angst-y heartbroken works to come out of the genre, filled with the hopeful excitement the band must be feeling as it embarks on its career. Listeners looking to add a little electricity to their life soundtracks should be excited too.