The official debut of Boston's Betwixt on Archenemy Records is a quirky assortment of catchy hooks and perky melodies presented in an off-beat pop format. This intriguing delivery can be attributed to the band employing a cello where one might expect a bass guitar. Evenly played acoustic strings, synthesizer and ukulele mold well with the beguiling vocals of Leah Callahan, whose singing style is both childlike and seductive. While hints of
Crash Test Dummies and
the Waitresses ("Sundown, Sundown") add to the abstract quality of these compositions, "Our Tusk," "Cindy" and "Seahorse" use a heavy dose of steely guitar to achieve a spacey quality, giving this thoughtful and imaginative record real creative energy. A fresh and unique offering. ~ Roxanne Blanford