Gracefully hovering between pop and indie, one could liken Eloise's debut record "Semantics" to a delightful ménage à trois, of catchy melodies, agile observations and the young band's growing sonic curiosity. With their independent spirit and a little help from friends, such as the talented engineering mastermind Valente Torrez (Elliott Smith), Eloise took to recording, producing and releasing their debut album on their own. The result was a positively dynamic record with a strong pop sensibility and an indie attitude.

Composed of self-taught musicians, May Ann Pescante, Michelle Torrez and Cyrus Butler, the band's unique sounds originate from a natural attraction to recording. The Los Angeles-based trio met while working as engineers at the world-renowned Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, but it wasn't until years after their meeting that they formed Eloise. May Ann Pescante, an L.A. native, lends her fragile yet robust voice to articulate surprisingly intense ruminations, such as the opening line in "Little Star" ("I bought a phone card / I pay good money to argue with you"), as she gently strums her guitar. Michelle Torrez, a transplant from Santa Fe, New Mexico, combines crafty bass lines and keyboard finesse with her inventive vocal harmonies. Cyrus Butler, hailing from California's central coast, anchors each number with delectable drum patterns and a spirited spontaneity; he also knows how to generate a one-of-a-kind electric kazoo solo.

Eloise's live magnetic energy is a genuine treat, while every song on the album shines a flattering new light on the band's extraordinary potential. Tyler Martin, of the ILP podcast, nominates Eloise as "Better than the Smashing Pumpkins!" In all its comic impertinence, to a real indie music fan, he might be right.

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