Andorra

iTunes Review

On Andorra, Canadian Dan Snaith's loops and layers of digital delights create a warm cocoon of sound, and the end result is so engaging, the sound so massive and enveloping, its hard to believe that Caribou isn’t a five-piece ensemble with an endless studio budget. First up is the astounding “Melody Day,” with Snaith’s delicate vocals soaring and swooping, carried on gusts of reverby guitars, rushing cymbals, and galloping drums, with flourishes of synthesized sounds like flute and organ. “Sandy” follows next, with sublimely huge, tribal drum beats juxtaposed against jingling bells, whooshing synths, electric piano, and heavy layers of Snaith’s falsetto, resulting in four minutes of psych-pop perfection. The middle tracks are more blissful pop-under-the-blacklight creations, and then Snaith takes a sharp detour to a different time:  “Sundialing” takes us for a spin on Kraftwerk’s autobahn, unblinking rhythms moving as fast as you dare drive. On “Irene,” Snaith is having fun in the studio, playing with space and sound in an unabashedly electronic game; and on the nine-minute closer, “Niobe,” Snaith’s falsetto takes it down a few notches to better complement the sprawling, darker Krautrock feel of the piece.