Twin Oaks is magic. There, I’ve said it. Perhaps not a household name yet, but we’d suggest their era of relative obscurity is done. What began as a bedroom folk-inspired duo has evolved into a dynamic and compelling dream pop project that commands attention, and respect. The core of Twin Oaks is the songwriting team: vocalist and lyricist Lauren Brown, and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/producer Aaron Domingo. Through the past five years, a revolving cast of talents has helped flesh out the structure of the songs, but Brown and Domingo build the sonic foundation, and layer waves of delicate emotion and complex instrumentation around it.
With focus and precision, 2019’s Twin Oaks targets both the head and heart, and See You When I See You guides the listener through a journey of self-doubt and tentative resolve, without detour or false step. Spacious arrangements often draw from post-rock traditions, but the songs never lose their immediacy or emotional directness. The sound is of a conflicted internal dialogue, trying to make peace with oneself and the world surrounding. If you’re new to Twin Oaks, you might catch strains of Sigur Rós, The XX, Daughter, Mogwai, even Innocence Mission. But this is not the work of copyists.
The watery emotional depths are elevated by the band’s ability to navigate between haunting soundscapes, driven dynamics, and quiet contemplation. “See You When I See You is a process of diving into the most unsettling moments of life in order to find a better sense of self”, says Brown of her lyrical approach.
So many surprises here, so many flourishes bubble to the top, whether it be arrangement choices, production decisions, or the effective injection of sweeping dynamics without losing the soul of the songs. That the album was recorded and produced in true DIY fashion at Domingo’s home studio in Southern California is a marvel, as it sounds like an expensively-produced affair. That speaks to an attention to detail you just can’t find in this day and age, at any level.
Press play on our premiere stream of See You When I See You, and we’ll chat some more about the landmark this album represents below.
“Montauk” opens, glacial in its pace, and you’ve been put on notice: there be melancholy here. It sets the effective tone for what’s to follow: intimate reflection, building tension, sweeping dynamics, catharsis and release. “Getting Nowhere” makes effective use of reverse reverb on the vocal, deftly and sparsely used, set to a playful guitar line and building propulsion. “Lakes” is one of the surprise singles of the year thus far. Subtle in its approach, vocal line plays against guitar, both entwine gorgeously for the chorus payoff, with deft support from drummer/percussionist Marilyn Beltran and bassist Aroldo Rios. It’s a perfect slice of wistful memory that speaks to fans of both dream pop and hazy shoegaze, as well as top-shelf songwriting and arrangement.
Perhaps the most gutting song I’ve heard from Twin Oaks in their career is “Rumors”. Gentle guitar plays against piano, and when you think you’ve got a fix on the song, synth sneaks through in alternate tuning to imply menace and instability, and tribal drums rise to bring the maelstrom home. Lauren Brown’s lyrics cut through to the existential questions, and I paraphrase here: “Who am I? Why am I like this? What life have I built? And after all the blood sweat and tears it took to get here, to this moment, was it worth it?” As perfect a single as “Lakes” is, “Rumors” is the perfect song. And it’s one that’ll haunt you long after the last guitar note trails off.
See You When I See You is deep, rich and textured, and a tour de force for a band that’s been perfecting their songcraft and presentation for years now. Whether you’re a fan of dream pop, shoegaze, or post-rock, this is a next-level achievement in sound and songwriting. The band has been championed by Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins), Amazing Radio, and, well, us. With Friday’s release of this, their second full LP, we’d suggest the wider world is ready to have its heart broken by Twin Oaks. As of this calendar date, See You When I See You is sure to end up in our top five albums of 2019.
Tour plans are taking shape now, including a mini-tour of the Pacific Northwest, as well as an album release party to be announced, and another star turn at Resident in DTLA on July 31. As compelling as they are on record, they’re a legitimate phenomenon in live performance. And I can attest to this fact. In an early spring’s evening full of quality performers, I saw Twin Oaks bring an awed crowd to silence, and rapt attention. And that’s not easy to do in this day and age. Not to be missed. Follow Twin Oaks via their website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and preorder the sparkling new album on Bandcamp ahead of release on June 14th!
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