All Day Gentle Hold ! by Porches

Sweet and Gritty Vibes Made Easy

Porches is synth-pop and indie rock by way of NYC's Aaron Maine. First introduced to me by way of Frankie Cosmos, Porches has been putting out intriguing sounds and stellar vibes since 2013's Slow Dancing in the Cosmos. Standout tracks range from the jangly guitar rock of "Car" and "Mood" on Pool to the warped electronic dance of "Goodbye" on The House to the crooning synth-pop of "Patience" and "Do U Wanna" on Ricky Music. Porches carries a consistently kick-ass combo of lazy yet expressive melodies and reliable rhythm. And Maine's subtly gritty vocals add a consistent character. In this latest album, Porches relaxes in a way that allows him to refine his style with an easygoing flair.

All Day Gentle Hold ! is an absolute masterclass of letting a good time fly. Within a few seconds and for fewer than 30 minutes, Porches will have you punch drunk on good vibes. A course grain of sugar with enough to crunch your teeth on, but still so so sweet going down.

Thick, pitched synths; distorted or jangly guitars; and multiple vocal tracks make frequent, textured appearances. The album starts with a high-hat-driven head-banger, "Lately," that sets a feverish tone. It ends with a somewhat psychedelic drawl that hints at an oncoming comedown before "I Miss That" immediately smoothes out the lull and pulls the listener into a pleasant haze with the so-repeatable refrain of "I miss that/I miss that/I miss that" and "I like that/I like that/I like that." The third track, "Okay," follows up as an unerringly jaunty lilt. Aaron is bringing us along on an unapologetic, straightforward good time.

You might catch something like a break in slow burn bangers "Swimming Big" and "In A Fashion," but you won't escape Porches' endless cool. Each song has a handful of simple flourishes and vocal deliveries that make you just: MWUAH! The modulated vibrato of "ba-a-a-a-ack to school" on "Back3School" and the lone, plucking guitar break coupled with the delivery of "this song really slapped, brought me back to life" shows an incredible vocal restraint as the lyrics stray from careless and indulgent to suddenly earnest and reflective. "Swarovski" begins with an irregular rhythm and bursts into a chorus accompanied by a heady bass and gaily staccato synth reminiscent of Discovery. "Watergetsinside" is a banger with an ecstatic finish that first winds down into a breathy monologue before exploding with "I wanna lay you on the earth/I wanna feel it spinning round!"

"Inasint" tastefully interludes before the final two tracks on the album. "Grab the Hook" is a straightforward, catchy tune with a stellar bass that leads into the last "Comedown Song (Gunk)," ending like a plea for you to exit this album high, leaving behind a humid and stuffy party at the end of a summer night well spent.