HEAR THIS: Handshakes
Bright keyboards blazing and bass tones chugging – the hallmarks of a Handshakes song. The six-piece band, hailing from the Los Angeles area, is capable of minimalist jams one minute and harmony-laden, singalong-worthy choruses the next. Listen to “Vacation” and try not to belt it when vocalist Drew Mottinger sings, “This is the way we take si-i-ides!” Or take in the creeping muted guitars and percussive slink of “Explosions.” It’s an accessible take on the loud-quiet-loud ethic that’s filled with aged synths and vocal effects. Handshakes are a group that knows how to use a variety of elements to its advantage, spicing up tunes with sonic surprises.