One of this week's most pleasant surprises is likely to be the new one from Dari Bay. A project from Zach James of Robber Robber and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, the straightforward alt-rock of Surprise Wish is really good stuff. While the last Robber Robber record got high marks here, this one is even easier to love.
Surprise Wish opener "Finder" sounds a little like Jason Falkner to these ears, and that's always a good thing, while "Video" is crunchy goodness in the manner of The Rentals. Zach James makes this material feel fresh despite some similarities to mid-Nineties forms. That said, the hooks are strong enough to forgive anything here that feels too Clinton era. And songs like "Chevy" are so lyrical that to tag this with a simple alt-rock label feels too easy.
Dari Bay is now on my radar. While Robber Robber is a group that rightly deserves attention, Zach James' efforts here as Dari Bay are just as good, if different. This material on Surprise Wish isn't a reinvention of the wheel, but it's all remarkably solid, punchy stuff.
Surprise Wish by Dari Bay is out on Friday via Double Double Whammy.
[Photo: Nat Campbell]