The Go! Team Yosemite Theme

When listening to the opening track of The Go! Team's newest album Rolling Blackouts, my initial thought was, "Oh, cool, another pseudo 90s sounding indie dance record with kind of squeaky sounding girls rapping over computer music. This'll be fun."

I wasn't totally off the mark -- Rolling Blackouts is actually one fun album, the latest in a series of fun albums put out by an eclectic, coed band you would most certainly want to party with. But as I continued to listen, and listened a little more closely, I found myself hugely impressed by the UK-based band's musical complexity and skill. Sure, most tracks have a beat you can dance to, and the lead vocals tend to be at a decibel level higher than average. But the music behind those vocals show a range that I often find lacking in other indie pop groups with a similar kind of sound.

Take "Ready to Go Steady" for example. It's a textbook-perfect girl group pop song, as good as the infectious tracks that Best Coast has been churning out. Or "Apollo Throwdown," which could be a Neon Indian track doubled in tempo (meaning you've got to dance twice as hard).

My favorite track is a completely different throwback. Almost entirely instrumental, "Yosemite Theme" combines the grandeur of 70s string arrangements with a killer beat and a healthy dose of tambourine. It's unique, it's surprising, and it's an excellent indication of the incredible musical skill that this album, and band, have to offer. You can check out the entire LP streaming now on KRCW; it's expected to drop in February (we believe January 31 for those in the UK).