HOMEY

Even on Chon's very good debut from two years earlier did the threat of stagnation loom, and their sophomore release sounds disappointingly formulaic: well-played, well-constructed, even pleasant to the ears, but ultimately very inessential and a little monotonous. There's not much development from the previous album and not much to distinguish it all from many other math rock acts, except for the few random hip-hop and electropop excursions which (safe perhaps for the amusing cut-and-pasty "Glitch") blend about as well with the rest of the material as oil in water. Highlights include the multi-part "Here And There", and "Wave Bounce" which has a rawer and heavier production style than the squeaky clean production that the other songs invariably sport.