Ampop
Sail to the Moon
Sena
By Mike Randall
Ampop must have had some early foresight into the turn their music was going to take when they named the band, because that moniker didn’t always sonically represent what they were doing. Originally conceived as an electronic duo in their native Iceland, Ampop (or ambient pop) switched gears by adding a drummer for their 2005 release My Delusions, unleashing their inner pop sensibility. They return with much of the same on their fourth album, Sail to the Moon, but this it’s much better.
If you weren’t briefed about Ampop’s past ahead of listening to this record, you’d have no idea. They execute glorious pop reminiscent of the piano-driven rhythms of Keane with the ambience of Yoshimi-era Flaming Lips. Add to the mix vibrant vocals, an abundance of melody and a plethora of interesting sounds and instruments, and you’ll wonder why they weren’t doing this all along.
The space-y overtones of the opener, “You Could Be Lovely,” set the mood, but it’s Beach Boy-inspired moments like in the title track that uncover the wonderful surprises to be discovered in this record. “How Do I Know” finds alluring piano with luscious string arrangements erupting into a carnival-like groove, while the title of “Your Dream” perfectly capitulates its trance-like vibe. Subsequently, “I Don’t Want to Stay” is pure pop perfection before they once again revisit their Beach Boys influence on “Spring,” a sparsely-worded outro with the sole lines, “Spring makes me want to fall in love again/Spring makes me want to fall in love with you.”
Although hailing from Reykjavik, the entire record is sung in English. The themes can be morose, as in “Get Me Down,” a song about the daily grind taking its toll, but it’s not downer music by any means -- in fact, it’s quite bouncy. “Two Directions,” “Temptations” and “Carry On” could very well be a trilogy about the positive and negative effects of life on the road, with each orchestrated differently and masterfully.
While Ampop has always had the ambience, their true calling is unquestionably in the pop world. Not to knock electronic music, but the universe is far better off with these guys putting their melodic skills to good use in a full-band setting. Here’s to holding faith they stick with it.
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