Labels: self released
Review by: Andy Malcolm
I’ve never ever heard of this band. Not that this is a very relevant fact, but hey, I am just trying to make this review look longer. The Santiago Steps are a rather ace sounding mellow indie / pop band from California. They play a kind of country influenced pop style, that very much brings to mind the later works of Ribbon Fix. “Parrots in Orange Trees” is the perfect example of this, jangling a long and being pushed forwards by a wandering bassline that could have escaped from an early Promise Ring song. They have dual boy / girl vocals, and the styles of both are similar at times to Mark and Andie from Ribbon Fix. Top quality. They vary things with additional instruments, such as some horns on “No More Clones”, and also by changing the pace with more mellow moments like “I’m in Love w/ a Girl”.
Generally an upbeat and happy sounding record, with good variations in pace and style. It’s catchy and fun and it is clocking in at 30 or so minutes. I like this quite a bit, nice one.