Making your EP freely downloadable is a great marketing strategy for getting music out there. However, it seems like Traveling in Stereo’s main objective in doing so is to share their voice and message with a larger audience rather than a self serving agenda.
The New Jersey band is composed of 5 musicians from all different backgrounds which lends to the record being formed as a mixture of rock, reggae, folk, pop and everything in between.
The use of acoustic guitars is interesting juxtaposed with electric guitar playing on this record with songs like “Let It Go” and “Who’s Who” which is propelled by a charging chord. “Just A Dream” falls into place in a similar fashion with relaxed chords providing the backbone a song about lost relationships. “See Your Face” also features a dominant drum influence that adds to the sun and surf sounding song.
Tracks like “What I Know” have a distinct island flavor to them with soothing melodies and repetitions. The band lives up to their namesake with tracks like “No Bother” that combine acoustic and electric guitars with a variety of other sounds for a mid tempo result. “Peace Pipe” is a Rastafarian sounding track that likens slow drums and languid guitars that captures the melancholy lyrics to full effect.
While several bands on the indie scene strive to bring different sounds to the forefront, Traveling in Stereo’s EP is both layered and interesting to listen to. There’s a level of quiet confidence that radiates from the album that should help them continue with this endeavor and pick up new fans in the process. It will be of greater interest however, to see the eclectic fan base that turn up for the band’s concerts.
