If you’re not aware of Wavves, they’re an occasionally thrilling Cali surf rock proposition that have been riding the chill wave phenomenon, whilst humming some slacker melodies to great success. Mainman Nathan Williams dates Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino. Life is good. So naturally the prospect of Williams (along with his brother Kynan) turning his attentions to a ‘side project’ suggests notions of lazy vanity projects and stoned indulgence.
Wrong. Sweet Valley’s third mixtape does indeed sound lightly toasted, but it wears it well. An amalgamation of high-flying vocals and big beats, it swaggers into the room with the assured ‘Dimensions’ and goes on to pull off the impressive trick of not sounding dull at all over the course of 17 tracks. Guitar screams combine with stately strings and invigorating horns over dubstep maneuvers – and, somehow, it doesn’t end up a complete mess. In fact, like all good records, it reels you into the world it creates and keeps you hooked from beginning to end. Far better than an acid work-out should ever be, Sweet Valley break the beat and then some.
Fractured, boisterous in a ‘90s rap way, sun-drenched and fun, you wonder what kind of audience it could possibly be aiming for, despite it’s enticing, flab-free content. Truth is, Sweet Valley probably don’t even have an audience in mind, and Jenova’s all the better for it. Feel-good, eclectic stuff – if Avalanches can’t get their act together soon and finish that second album, at least we have their dark, tearaway bro to occupy our time.