Univox
Roir
4 Stars

In the ‘70s, Philadelphia was known for its soul sound. Philly Soul’s lush arrangements created a musical cloud for three-part vocals harmonies to stretch out it in, helping to showcase the vocal talents of groups like The O’Jays and The Stylistics. Now, here in the future, Philly Soul has faded away, but Univox is here to show that someone in that town still cares about vocal harmony.

First things first, Univox is not a soul band. What they are is a four-piece band whose eclectic indie pop/rock is pushed to another level by the fact that all four of the band members are also pretty good singers. This collection of vocal talent allows them to explore harmony in a way that a lot of other bands just can’t duplicate by layering one or even two singers’ vocals, giving Univox an advantage that is increasingly rare.

On their self-titled, full-length debut, Univox makes it clear that they’re not willing to settle into a single genre or sound. The album opens with “Pi,” a ripping garage-revival jam that easily evokes the fuzzy power of The Von Bondies. The band immediately makes an about face with mellow, college rock on “Everybody Knows,” replacing the raw guitar sounds with a cleaner, more easygoing demeanor. There’s also the more psychedelic “Nobody’s That Smart,” which finds the band drenched in haunting reverb as they close out the album with a trip back to the ‘60s.

The impressive vocal work on the album helps to create both the albums highest and lowest moments. “Cannonball” really demonstrates what Univox can pull off. The vocals are almost like another set of instruments, adding to the melody of the song without feeling distracting, with everything seamlessly flowing together into one beautiful package. On the other hand, “All This Blood Came From My Heart” feels too indulgent with its Gregorian chant meets doo-wop a cappella vocals feeling like a goofy diversion from the rest of the album.

All together, Univox is a pretty impressive debut for the Philly band. With its incredibly tight songwriting, unabashed melody and constantly shifting genres, it makes for a fun listen that has a little something for everyone, and a lot to like for those who just love music. Whether your musical focus is narrow or ever expanding, this album should be an easy addition to any summer playlist. – GREGORY HEANEY

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