New Music Tuesday: Psapp

After my first listen of Tiger, My Friend by electropop duo, Psapp, I had no idea how to describe their music.  So allow me to describe Psapp using their own words:

"Psapp are a band made out of Carim Clasmann and Galia Durant. We like making songs with little noises poking out.."

By 'little noises', Carim and Galia are referring to squeaky toys, kittens, beeps, clicks, whirrs, croaking frogs, music boxes, clanging bottles and beanbags.

Intuition probably tells you this can't be serious music.  Well, yes and no.  Yes it is serious music - richly layered and creative.  And no it's not serious music in that a constant feeling of whimsy pervades most tunes.

If I had a child, we would listen to this CD together.  Enough surprise and fun for the little ones without the risk of grownups reaching to poke their foreheads with a salad fork out of sheer frustration (a Barney sing-along it aint).

Listen to a few songs at Psapp's myspace site.  Watch the video to 'About Fun' at the Leaf Label. Or listen to song previews at iTunes.

Some standout tracks:
About Fun - accented by a kitten, apparently with hiccups
King Kong - one funky washboard
The Counter - a surprisingly stripped down soulful ballad
Tiger, My Friend - a waterfall, various chirps and a dance inducing beat

Wine Pairing: This music's obvious whimsy with unexpected depth calls for a wine that, at first blush, one might dismiss; yet after a few sips, serious character shines through.  Three wines with which to Psapp: Long Island Early Wine (via Lenn), Sandrone Docletto D'Alba (via Bill) or Abbazia di Novacella Kerner.