Warm Nothing

So Many Wizards

Jax Art Records, 2012

http://jaxart.net/artists/so-many-wizards

REVIEW BY: Tom Haugen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 12/15/2012

I've heard of some serious hardship stories revolving around putting out a record, but few that continually last as long as the one surrounding So Many Wizard's debut my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250 Warm Nothing. It’s a journey that covered five countries on four continents after Nima Kazerouni fled Iran as a guitar-playing teenager and eventually ended up in California with a deep bag of stories that would turn into song.

Surprisingly, considering the vast amount of turmoil he had to endure, this is a fairly upbeat disc of indie pop sensibilities and lo-fi surf rock moments. Filled with laid-back California vibes, So Many Wizards delivers from a melodic and often dreamy angle, filling a half hour of light and wispy bedroom style pop.

Warm Nothing wastes no time getting the point across, with the opener "Never Wake Up" displaying Kazerouini's falsetto voice matched with instrumentation that is reminiscent of Fleet Foxes or The Shins and could easily typify what indie rock sounds like in 2012.  Most of the songs here are brief bursts of melody and reverb-soaked vocals, though even the longer songs have the same impact. "Inner City" is a highlight and probably the most memorable track here. "Lose Your Mind" might win a contest for the most addictive chorus of 2012, while "Sleepwalk" nearly sounds like a different band, as So Many Wizards alters their song structure with great results. The disc ends on the gentlest tune, "Deep Down," an introspective ballad that relies on hushed drums and soothing keys.

There is a lot of hazy beauty in this first LP, and the songs are both nostalgic – with nods to '50s and '60s pop – yet also very modern with the often-utilized post-punk influence. The meticulous attention to melody and infectious songwriting make this one of the best indie rock offerings this year.

Rating: A

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© 2012 Tom Haugen and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Jax Art Records, and is used for informational purposes only.