Review Summary: Uplifting… Heavenly… Evocative…
Fronted by Alexis Hall, The Motifs are a twee/dream pop band that write bite-sized, sugarcoated pop songs. Originating in Melbourne, Australia, The Motifs have been around ever since Hall began recording tracks at home as a solo project. Aside from Hall, the only constant member, the band features an ever-changing lineup consisting of various indie pop artists from the Melbourne area. However, despite their rotating cast of members, their core sound remains exceedingly coherent and genuine. Cross Paths, a twenty-three track compilation made-up of new and previous material, is undoubtedly their magnum opus and one of the finest examples of twee/dream pop the genre has to offer.
With the majority of tracks clocking in at just under two minutes, the songs on Cross Paths employ an abundant use of sounds and instrumentation: simple guitar strums, handclapping, synthesizers, uplifting vocal harmonies, glockenspiels, casiotone keyboards and even toy shakers. Their liberal utilization of instruments combined with the home-style production aesthetic create a wonderfully unique approach to the genre. Notably, “For A Clear Day” is one of the many highpoints of the album, showcasing The Motifs' great songwriting abilities, Halls silky angelic vocals, as well as boasting an infectious chorus (“what would I do if you woke me up?”). There are many other highlights that are worth mentioning, such as, “Pine Cone,” “Good Friends,” “Races,” and “Sleeping Away,” all of which contain a cozy atmosphere and uplifting "ooh’s," and "aah’s," that are guaranteed to leave you wanting more.
Although Cross Paths is a compilation album comprised of new and earlier material, the compilation remains incredibly consistent, as if each track was originally composed for this specific order. From the opening lyric in “Dots,” detailing the significance of umlauts (“you’re not the same without the dots above your name”) to the dreamy lulling closer of “Paper Boat,” The Motifs manage to seamlessly find the perfect balance between writing playful and engaging pop tracks.
Indeed, Cross Paths is unequivocally the best way of doing this particular style of pop music: catchy, sensitive, and lighthearted without being overindulgent to the point of becoming crass and juvenile. Perfect for those dreary rainy days, Cross Paths’ evocative cozy nature will take you away like a dream. Perhaps, it will be a dream you won’t soon want to wake from.
