On their debut LP,
Baby Teeth, Canadian dream pop quartet
Dizzy relinquish those titular vestiges of youth, capturing a lush, accomplished sound that could have been produced by a much more mature band. Drawing upon influences like
London Grammar,
Alvvays, and
Stars,
Dizzy also channels the spirit of early
Lorde with poetic lyrics and a similarly palpable frustration with mundane suburban life. Produced by
Damian Taylor (
Bjork,
Arcade Fire,
the Killers),
Baby Teeth also draws upon the sounds of artists like
Wet,
Birdy, and fellow dream pop revivalist
Hatchie. Together with the trio of Spencer brothers, vocalist
Katie Munshaw delivers a strong performance -- delicate without being too precious, wounded but confident -- heard on highlights like the atmospheric "Swim," the sprawling "Pretty Thing," and the hypnotic "Stars and Moons," whose thrumming bass and persistent drumming invigorate the otherwise dreamy sonics with a vibrant heartbeat. Introspective moments like the heartbreak-and-healing "Joshua" and the gorgeous acoustic "Pirouette" provide contemplative doses of tranquility on an already relaxed album. Balancing restraint with a keen ear for pop-friendly hooks inspired by
Jack Antonoff,
Dizzy manage to make quite the opening statement with
Baby Teeth. ~ Neil Z. Yeung