A good deal of buzz and anticipation has been centered around Twin Sister's debut LP In Heaven, and for good reason. It arrives on the heels of two successful EP's, 2008's Vampires With Dreaming Kids and 2010's Color Your Life, short players that only hinted at what this Long Island quintet is capable of. Add to that buzz tour dates with the likes of Devendra Banhart and Beirut, and appearances at SXSW and the Pitchfork Fest to name but a few, and Twin Sister has poised themselves squarely on the verge of a breakout.
Fortunately, In Heaven backs up all the hype with results. The first studio endeavor for a young band can be tricky to say the least, but Twin Sister never make their age or lack of experience an issue, instead they turn out a record that's brimming with confidence and seems to be the work of a veteran act. Moreover they use the long play capabilities of an album to let their sound branch out, successfully exploring new territory.
None of the songs on In Heaven feel like they've been over thought, each one flows nicely into the next even though a wealth of sonic diversity abounds. The synth pop of "Daniel", the psychedelic rock of "Eastern Green" and the Wild West heritage of "Gene Ciampi" are all unique pieces, but at the same time they sound like they belong together.
The vocal contributions from Andrea Estella and Eric Cardona are another bright spot for In Heaven. Estella shows off a harder edge on "Bad Street", while she is much dreamier on "Kimmi in a Rice Field" and "Space Babe". The album's best moment comes when she and Cardona share the mic on "Stop", a lounge-funk slow jam that sounds akin to Dan Bejar's recent work as Destroyer.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the album is the total clarity of everything. There are no impenetrable walls of reverb or chillwaves to block out the beauty of each vocal and instrumental piece. The band was obviously not phased by the move from a bedroom setup to a professional studio, if anything they relished the opportunity, giving their sound a refined finish that’s irresistible.
Grade – B+
~ Steve Dobek
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