The love child of Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire

Pulp Life is the first we‰’ve heard from Carbon Handshake since their debut album, A Dive Right. Though the EP only has five songs on it, it‰’s definitely something for fans to get excited about. The EP is also good for getting new fans: Carbon Handshake has this really cool, aquatic-like sound. With synthesizers and slower beats, listening to their music gives one the impression of floating underwater. Not to mention, the male lead sounds very similar to Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig, especially in “Acapulco Gold.‰” Carbon Handshake also has a female vocalist, with a high, soft voice. When the two sing together, along with the electronic bloops and beeps going on in the background, it sounds very reminiscent of Arcade Fire‰’s latest release, Reflektor. Not the Carbon Handshake is ripping off these two bands; that‰’s not what I‰’m trying to say at all. They have elements of the two, and when combined make something new and highly enjoyable.

RIYL: Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, the XX

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