Album Review: Toro Y Moi - Anything In Return

In his own words, the new album from Toro Y Moi is summarised as follows: “this record was just me having fun – making music that my girlfriend would dance to or something”. It's a fair assessment and despite reeking of '90s techno and house music, it wouldn't be out of place if played from start to finish at any small indie bar in the inner west of Sydney. A notable departure from what made up the pop'n'hook of the previous two albums and EPs, Anything In Return's strength is in its mileage in that you can put it on and go about your business or buy it on vinyl, plug in some expensive vintage speakers and blow your beard off with some seriously smooth chocolate bass riddims.

Despite So Many Details being released as a single late last year, there aren't really any stand-out tracks in the same vein as Still Sound or Talamak off of the previous two albums. Furthermore, the album contains an unintentionally inconsistent track listing in the sense that the stuff that grabs your attention doesn't start until a bit over mid-way through the record; for example Studies – instantly recognisable as a Toro Y Moi track with its dance-friendly groove built on a solid indie foundation – might have been a better choice as an album opener. Following is the equally listenable High Living and its supplement Grown Up Calls, and having these tunes bunched closely together suggests some may find themselves skipping ahead to get a cheap fix rather than waiting around for the good stuff – but then you realise the earlier tracks are just as solid, and after a few listens it all starts to make sense. Simply put, his girlfriend must dance to cool music.