The Miranda Sound, Engaged in Labor
Reviewed by f*v
Engaged In Labor introduces itself with a rhythmic rattle, assembling into the opening track, "Cadence." From that first moment on, Columbus, Ohio's The Miranda Sound begins to establish themselves with spot-on musical preciseness and consistently interesting songs. Manifesting itself at times purposefully herky-jerky and at others polished and blended, The Miranda Sound establishes their own sonic identity early on. "Wrong or Right" kicks off with pounding piano, basic beats, and furtive vocals before guitars add the underlining to one of the album's strongest tracks; the band eludes becoming stuck in one sound, however, displaying flexibility on the almost-jangly ballad, "The Boy is on the Outside." The most defining (though not dominating) element of The Miranda Sound is the vocal approach. Dan Gerken and Billy Peake share vocals on all but two tracks, each approaching the microphone alone once. Their vocals are perfectly complementary, harmonious and intricately woven in one chorus, lunging and diving across each other's paths on the next. With solid songwriting and musical depth, Engaged in Labor is both instantly engaging and enjoyable over repeated listens.