Orlando has been a hotbed of creativity over the past few years and the latest act to earn national notice is Day Joy, birthed from the collective of musicians who began their respective tenures in the Introduction to Sunshine-Bananafish musical family.
Michael Serrin and Peter Michael Perceval originally formed the band and share in the songwriting duties on Day Joy’s full-length debut, Go to Sleep, Mess, released on boutique vinyl label Small Plates Records last week. Serrin’s gorgeous lead vocals are a sweet caress of notes, lower lulling ethereal intones or soaring falsetto-high wails bolstered by the tuneful backing harmonies of Perceval. Together, they build dreamy, lushly textured folk pop, the former on keys and synths, the latter plucking banjo melodies, while the rest of the meandering instrumentals and choruses are filled out by guitarist/singer Travis Reed (Loud Valley), bassist/singer Artie Burer (Loud Valley) and drummer David Plakon (Saskatchewan). From the majestic opening sample-and-found-sound sonicscapes of “Animal Noise,” to the plodding melancholic title track that closes the album, Go to Sleep, Mess is a stunning and tasteful work that does our Florida music scene proud. For fans of Fleet Foxes and Yellow House-era Grizzly Bear.
Critics’ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars