Madrid’s Underwater Tea Party have been one of the most exciting bands on the Spanish pop scene for the last few years and on their debut Suburban Metronome they prove that the buzz has not been unfounded. Armed with an almost otherworldly sense of the modern pop song, the band plays a breezy brand of indie rock that touches on everything from The Zombies to Flamenco. “Cityscapes & U.F.O.’s” churns with a dark pop energy; “Long Island Ice Tea” sounds like a lost ‘60s classic and “Silent Moans” suggests Belle and Sebastian. The album’s piece de resistance, however, is “The Untold Story About Mary and Nick,” an alluring boy-girl duet that sounds like a dream pairing of Robyn Hitchcock and Isabel Campbell. Singer Clara Martinez has a smooth delivery that ripples and rolls in hushed and elegant ways. She can be forlorn (“Void”) or buoyant (“Ampelmann”) but either way she’s an incredibly engaging singer. Produced by the legendary Spanish knob turner Fine Oyonarte, who was blown away by the band’s live performance at the 2005 Navalpop Festival, Suburban Metronome is charming and mysteriously affecting.
--Alex Green
