Crumb’s third and most recent release, Amama, adds a playful twist to the band’s discography.
Crumb’s catalog falls into the psych pop category, which compiles sounds from genres like pop, jazz, rock, and techno, and was popularized by bands like Tame Impala.
Amama is much less polished and more carefree than the band’s previous works. The sound of this album is loose, flowy, and easy to get lost in.
However, despite the seemingly random organization of Amama’s sound, the album includes an impressive blend of organic instrumentals, like guitars and backing drums, with electronic beats, and it stands in contrast to other electro-pop bands by incorporating many jazz elements.
The album is generally upbeat, but it has some darker moments. The track “Side by Side” has a mostly unobtrusive sound, but many deeper moments sound wise, especially within the outro and beat drops.
“Crushxd” stands out with more experimental beats and a satisfying flow, but it also features an electrifying guitar solo.
“Dust Bunny” is one of the best tracks on the album, as it maintains the patchwork aesthetic while opening to a more organized sound, most notably focusing on the impressive drum beats from Jonathan Gilad.
Crumb’s lead singer and instrumentalist, Lila Ramani, provides solid vocals, but at times they can be buried in overproduction. The sound can get repetitive, but the album is short enough to avoid having the songs blend together.
Overall, the album is a solid work, but it can easily be overshadowed by other works in the genre. Amama is a decent one- or two-time listen for those comfortable within the psychedelic pop scene, but can be skipped by casual music fans.
