Sibilant Sounds

Sibilant Sounds is a gem of a band. These guys have it all: earnest, fluid rhythms; a chameleon-like talent for seamlessly fitting into their surroundings; and effortless, beachy charm for days. They’ve only existed for a brief spell to date—the band was officially formed about a year ago as a duo between singer Will Daube and guitarist Matt Underwood—but in that time, the now-foursome, rounded out by bassist Julian Denton and drummer Alex Lee (Now Jordan Malone), has cultivated a sound that has placed them solidly on the Wilmington music scene and will likely take them much further. If you’re interested in a very specific, reliable kind of music, then Sibilant Sounds probably won’t be the obvious choice for you. It’s clear that they belong under the indie rock umbrella, but other than that, they seem okay with experimenting as far as that shade reaches. Their sound is somewhat mercurial within that big space, kaleidoscopic in a way that never settles down long enough to get an exact read; if you’re looking for a narrow label, the best I can give is something like blues-psychedelia-garage-surf-rock. Even with all those hyphens, I don’t think I’ve quite nailed them. Sometimes they’ve got edge (check out L!AR$), and other times they’re all soft curves (case in point, my personal favorite from them, 4 a liTTle biT). It just depends on the moment and the mood. In my opinion, that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s great. Not only do I love the variety from them, I also think one of the coolest things about Sibilant Sounds is that they’ve managed to define themselves by their lack of a strict definition. These guys are young! They’re artists! They live in a town by the ocean! And if there’s anything that young, artistic people by the ocean know, it’s that sometimes it feels good to slow down and take it easy. They’ve embraced the spirit of transformation and adaptation in a way that allows them to be flexible—not just with the music they play, but with their creative process as a whole. Sibilant Sounds also has a knack for playing to listeners rather than at them, so there’s a certain pliability to what you’ll get out of any given performance on a personal level. Their acoustic sets--like the one I heard at Recon--are usually simpler, faded into the background in a way that makes you feel a little like an extra in a film or a figure in a watercolor painting. Their louder performances bring a quiet excitement to a room that just sort of connects with the part of you that’s young, grungy, and happy to be alive. Either way, it’s great stuff. They know how to rock every bit as well as they know how to just roll with it, and you consistently get the feeling that they fit right in whatever scene they're at. Overall, Sibilant Sounds brings good vibes to whatever performance they’re giving. Will, Matt, Julian, and Alex (now Jordan Malone) are four cool guys who wanted to make some cool music, found each other, and made it work. They know how to play a room, keeping their fingers on the pulse of the crowd and adjusting accordingly. They’re unique, charismatic, and interesting in a familiar way that makes all the difference. Listening to this band is a good reminder that it’s okay to be young and dumb in some beach bum town as long as you’re having a good time. Atlantis Magazine Flash Review: Sibilant Sounds March 29, 2017 Chantai Thomas Kaleidoscopic Psych Rock