Tarmac Adam

Add Date: February 19 

Artist: Tarmac Adam 

Album: The History Effect 

Label: Onesize 

Genre: Rock, pop 

Comments: From the onesheet: "Tarmac Adam is the creation of Melbourne, Australia-based songwriter Matt O'Donnell and multi-instrumentalist Steve Paix. Later, Reuben Alexander signed up to play drums, and the group was completed with the arrival of Crowded House bass player Nick Seymour... The songs [on The History Effect] contain a sense of cool--music will temporarily drop out to soundscapes and synthesizers and will kick back in not with intensity, but with confidence.

"The album opener 'Chalk on Skate' builds up to bright backup melodies and keyboard organ layers that dart around Seymour's dancing bass. Guest vocalist Maddy Hay offers a haunting cameo on the lush 'You As Me', a song that is bittersweet with shades of the romanticism reminiscent of the pre-Britpop bands of the early '90s. 'Giving It Back' starts with bossanova harmonies that are interrupted by a low guitar and laidback chorus... RIYL: Elbow, Death Cab for Cutie, Wilco, The Shins..."

Start with tracks 1, 3, 6 and 5.