April March and Los Cincos

by Brian FlotaThis collaboration between April March and the Southern California band Los Cincos is a pleasant listen, often sounding like a mix between the Cardigans and the Ventures. March's nice vocals glide over the most mature music Los Cincos have ever recorded. Adding depth to the record is the violin playing of ex-That Dog member Petra Haden, whose playing is perfectly suited for this material, especially on the album's centrepiece, "Last Train to Christmas." The highlights include a near-perfect pop tune in "Olive Green Dictionary" that concludes with Eno-esque ambience, and the equally catchy "Bebert," sung in French. All in all, April March and Los Cincos is a charming underground pop record with not one bad cut.