Toro y Moi is the slinky, ultra-sexy creation of chillwave-extraordinaire Chazwick Bundwick, and he’ll be returning to El Paso for the third time on January 31st at Tricky Falls along with touring support Wild Belle, Dog Bite and LNSC dj Glitterface.
Based out of Columbia, South Carolina, ‘Wick2 and co. have been one of the few projects to survive the hype of the summer 2010 wave-craze along with fellow acts Washed Out and, to some extent, Beach House, who were in attendance at the Oct. 2011 show at the Lowbrow Palace.
No longer a solo act, Chazzy B. has added a live backing band and the show certainly doesn’t suffer for it. Those that attended the first two shows at the Lowbrow Palace will testify to this. Both gigs provided standing room only for the ample crowd, leading to the booking of the much larger Tricky Falls for the upcoming concert.
2013 will see the release of Toro y Moi’s third full-length effort Anything in Return, and it stays true to the low-fi R&B sound made famous by his previous releases. Preempted by the singles “So Many Details” and “What Happened to Us?”, the record is awash with house music influences and features quite a few vocal samples that wouldn’t have been out of place in dance halls twenty years ago. The songs frequently teeter between smooth and jittery, always remaining downtempo, but never overly busy. The album opener, “Harm in Change”, provides a good example.
The band is currently headlining a busy European tour, followed by an extensive seventeen-date North American jaunt with openers Wild Belle and Atlanta, GA’s Dog Bite, with whom they recently released a 7” split.
As of presstime, Pitchfork Media is streaming Anything in Return in it entirety, however by the time you’re reading this, the album will available for purchase. Be a good person and hit up iTunes, and not The Pirate Bay. …Or you could be a really good person and order the vinyl from toroymoi.blogspot.com. People tend to like to sleep with really good people, and as a bonus you’ll have something sexy to put on during your spirited lovemaking session. You can thank me later.
Recently, Chaz took some time out to answer a few questions for you, the adoring reader, and bestows on us what is quite possibly the best response to the Internet question: Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck? Enjoy.
First of all, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for all your El Paso fans. How’s the European tour going?
It’s going alright. Not much sleep but that’s touring. We’re in Dublin now, I’m waiting at the airport to go to London.
You recently released a 7” split with tour mates Dog Bite. How did that collaboration come about?
Pretty easy actually. Toddle-House over at Carpark asked me if I wanted do something for the tour and a 7″ is usually a cool thing to do.
Your new album Anything in Return comes out this month. Where does the title originate?
It came from the expression: “Don’t expect anything in return”. Pretty much doing things out of good nature.
Is the new a record a collaborative effort between you and the live band you’ve incorporated into your act, or is the writing/recording process solely Chaz?
It was me solo again, but I might try the live thing again. But then again, that wouldn’t really be true to the project.
Along with your trademark lo-fi R&B sound, the new record has really strong house overtones. Is that a reflection of your current taste in music?
Pretty much. I like all kinds of music. It’s just a matter of time before getting it out in a record.
What were your three favorite albums of 2012?
Cloud Nothings-Attack On Memory
Tame Impala – Lonerism
Flying Lotus – Until The Quiet Comes
Who are you looking forward to hear from in 2013?
Ha, I don’t know really.
Some of your new songs are really jittery and almost schizophrenic while remaining downtempo. Is that nervous energy an indicator of your typical mental state?
Yeah, I’m pretty ADD.
What was the strongest influence on you during the making of Anything in Return?
I guess my move out of South Carolina.
What is the one thing you can’t live without while on the road?
Sleep.
Bonus: Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck?
One horse sized duck because horses are probably gross tasting.
Be sure to check out the videos for “So Many Details” and “What Happened to Us?”, and then go get yourself a white turtleneck and some plastic round frames and head to Tricky Falls on the 31st. Tell ‘em Fusion sent ya.
TEXT: TYLER DUDLEY