Youth Lagoon

Trevor Powers a.k.a. Youth Lagoon sounds so distant on his 2011 debut, The Year Of Hibernation, it’s almost as if he’s recording his vocals at the bottom of the murky body of water referenced in his band name. But distance shouldn’t be mistaken for disconnect, as Powers’ hollowed-out howls absolutely envelop his slow-building, thoughtful arrangements, as on the muted melancholy of “July” or the jubilant march of “Afternoon.” Echoing the damaged beauty of early Bright Eyes and the gentle pop of The Postal Service, Youth Lagoon’s bedroom suites could be difficult to translate to a live setting, but it should prove entertaining to watch him attempt to recreate the thrilling climbs of the album.

Updated 03/31/2012