One month ago, the long wait for the second album by up-and-coming New York City indie pop group Baskervilles, ended with the release of Twilight. More than the follow-up to the band's 2004 self-titled long player — and 2005 Midnight EP — it was the culmination of over a year-and-a-half's worth of creative publicity efforts, to promote the record.
The Internet-friendly plan, dubbed "Twilight 14," included giving fans free monthly downloads of each of the album's 14 tracks, on the Baskervilles website, starting in September 2006; all of which were housed in picture sleeves designed by contemporary artists. Some of them include Wilhem Sasnal, Lothar Hempel and Andrew Guenther. But on June 3, Baskervilles officially released all the music, with its corresponding and attention-grabbing artwork — one picture includes a banana-shaped moon with devil horns — on one CD.
While the new album’s title may suggest there would be loads of twee pop, dreamy soundscapes or dark music coming through your speakers, this is hardly the case as Baskervilles wants to put you in a happy, body-moving mood with their brand of perky indie pop. And it seems the band wants to do so in timely fashion, as the average length of each of the 14 songs is around three minutes, the album spanning just 42 minutes overall.
Twilight has an unmistakable modern feel to it but is without a doubt built upon influences old and not-so-old, from Lou Reed to Belle & Sebastian; it also shares similarities with 60s-minded bands like Apples In Stereo and has a little in common with the bouncy pop of Via Audio, who, like Baskervilles features alternating male/female vocal leads. It is also a record full of high spirits and energy, with songs about "being youthful and alive," as well as love and loss, according to Baskervilles.
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