Moretti and Amarante first met through chance after playing a festival in Lisbon, humoring the idea of working together on a project separate from their current bands. When Amarante travelled to the states to record Devendra Banhart on his Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon album, he met up with Moretti to hang out.
It was only through Binky Shapiro that the Moretti and Amarante finally acted on their previous idea of collaboration. Months later they moved into a house in Echo Park to demo songs, and soon after, they finished their self titled album, Little Joy, named after the local dive by their home.
From left: Producer Noah Georgeson, Rodrigo Amarante, Fabrizio Moretti, and Binky Shapiro.
If the three are any indication of the overall album, we're in for a treat. The first song, "No One's Better Sake" opens up with a twangy bass line and synth organ in a quick 6/8, lending itself to a mellow bassa-nova beat. Combined with a simple, no frills time-signiture, the vocals' grainy distortion gives the song an antiquated feel that calms.
The tracks change to "Brand New Start." Swing time and a brass section gives energy to the songs slower pace. I usually cant tolerate love songs, but this one's so unforgivingly open and straightforward that I can't help but love it. Catchy as hell, you'll probably have it stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
The set follows with "With Strangers" a sad, slow tune that makes me want to start drinking Kentucky Gentlemen in a dark room. "With Strangers" paints a darker image than the previous songs with lines like "Compells my hand to do what my heart wouldn't dare," and "you're perfecting love with strangers." With its almost slow deliberate vocals and powerful imagery, "With Strangers" is my favorite of the four tracks.
The tone of the music quickly switches tracks to a playful little diddy called "The Next Time Around." It opens with a light ukelele and guitar duet followed by a beautiful harmony of Amarante and Shapiro. The song dances around with a light percussion part and the gravelly tones of Amarante on lead vocals. The show is truly stolen two minutes in when the language switches to Portugese, and Binki breathes out a solo very reminiscent of "Girl From Ipanema." The song closes on the light tones of the guitar and ukelele.
Playing heavily on a light string sound, brass instruments, and synth organ, Little Joy delivers an antiquated sound dipped in the Brazillian heritage of Amarante and Moretti. With the rest of the album due out November 4th, all I can do is wait in anticipation.
Little Joy: No One's Better Sake
Little Joy: Brand New Start
Little Joy: With Strangers
Little Joy: The Next Time Around
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