Quantum Peruvian are an Essex County quartet who haven't been at it as a band for very long. Playing and practicing together for just under a year, the band have spent the last three months honing their chops live. They must have played nearly a dozen shows in that time. I see them in the listings almost every week.
At the end of last month, Quantum Peruvian released their first recorded output in the form of the four-song Quap. The ubiquitous Max Rauch (Lake Effect, NGTCRWLRS) handled the recording / mixing / mastering, and all of the songs were done as complete takes. What the band ended up with is a collection of indie pop that makes references to classic indie, psychedelia, and even some classic rock.
"Immaculate Deception" opens the record with some folksy-sounding electric guitar before the song moves into the slackery sway of early 90s indie. That feel is bolstered by the lead guitar work of Dom Townsend, who's got the vaguely country twang of Stephen Malkmus, and the vocal delivery of Ryan Bock.
There's something retro-sounding about the increasingly up-tempo standout "Grassroots." Jangly guitars at the beginning give way to something a little heavier as the song progresses, and the chorused guitars that carry us out have a glammy vibe to them.
"Cheek" starts out sounding like the record's slow jam, but has moments where it turns into a psychedelic garage rocker. The guitar solo makes me think of Built to Spill at their most jammy.
Similarly, the off-kilter twang that opens the almost country "Lunarsexual" is another example of that indie take on the sounds of someone like Neil Young that Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement do so well. Adrian Danon's synths weave in and out of a big solo from Townsend, giving things an appropriately spacey feel.
Throughout the EP, Tyler Curtis delivers some impressive drumming, especially on the opener. Lyrically, images of moon rocks, altered perceptions, and new moons add to the psychedelic atmosphere of the set.
Quap is impressive, especially for a first effort. It dabbles in lots of sounds I like and does it well. You can stream / download Quap over at Quantum Peruvian's Bandcamp, where it's available as a Name Your Price download, and see for yourself.
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