Review Summary: A massive snow-covered valley surrounded by icy mountains, sky changing colors above its glittering rug, a small wooden stage in the center, snow parted in a smooth circle, white candles lighting the band, warm faces, sunglasses and sunhats...
“Pay me, any way you want to pay me,” mutters Andrea Estella at the close of “Dry Hump”, opener of Twin Sister's first EP,
Vampires With Dreaming Kids. The music seems tailored to dreaming kids, and clearly made by them. Twin Sister's five members are from Brooklyn, NY and put on an enchanting show. They make hypnotic and colorful pop for shoegazing.
Estella sings languidly, with an almost coy hint of invitation. Her voice is dynamic and sets the glacial tone of the band. There's no twin sister on stage, but Estella's supporting cast of Bryan Ujueta, Eric Cardona, Udbhav Gupta, and Gabel D'Amico meet her with graceful ease, providing gorgeous harmonies and infectious grooves. Electric and bass guitars play audibly off of each other, and drums alternate between serving as central beats and providing atmosphere. “Ginger” begins with a railroad beat that takes off with a chanted verse and soaring chorus. Estella nails all the right melodies with all the right inflection. “Nectarine” shows the group's folk tendencies with a warm acoustic intro leading into male vocals. Estella joins them as the song develops a foggy beat. Twin Sister show a few different angles of their songwriting in just these four short songs, and nothing feels stretched or thin.
And where there is icy distance, it's welcome. It creates an exciting awareness or height. There's a sense of expanse; on “I Want a House” different effects mix to create inviting but almost chilling textures. You're not sure if it's fall or spring or the dead of winter. The EP is short, but the songs are made for repeated playing. With
Vampires With Dreaming Kids, Twin Sister start off on the proper feet, promising shimmering heights and warm afternoons.
