I’m a little bored with the electro-pop indie scene. Sampled midi-drums? Arpeggiated synth-strings? No, thank you. Still, there are always exceptions, and bands like The Sea and Cake, Cut Copy and San Francisco’s own, Loquat, make great records regardless of their “indie-electronica” classification.

Loquat entered the scene in 2005 with It’s Yours to Keep, a combination of meticulously crafted, thoughtful melodies and Eno-like soundscapes that pleased critics and casual music fans alike. On their sophomore effort, Secrets of the Sea, they pretty much stick to the same sonic recipe. Only this time, the focus is less on the ambiance and more on the songs. The result is a step in the right direction.

Simply put, Secrets is a more dynamic record. No longer just another pretty voice, Swenson’s vocals reflect a darker, more ominous tone than the smoothed-out textures of the music suggest. This juxtaposition adds a depth that was missing on Loquat’s earlier offerings and makes Secrets worth checking out.

I caught the band’s show at the Bottom of the Hill this past weekend where they played a short set to celebrate the release of their new record (released Oct. 21 on local label Talking House Records). Swenson mentioned that the band was exhausted from its recent Midwest/East Coast tour, and if their uninspired set gave any indication, she wasn’t lying. Fortunately, bookends “Harder Hit” and “Go Hibernate” were fantastic and worth the trip.

Regardless of their performance last Saturday, I recommend checking out Secrets of the Sea – especially if you’re a fan of the densely layered folktronic beats of artists like Beth Orton, Stereolab, and Air.

MP3:

Loquat – “Harder Hit”