Sofa So Good

Totorro

Here's a new discovery for me. Totorro is an instrumental rock band from Rennes, France, and their new album Sofa So Good is their first new album in nine years. They operate in the lanes of math rock and midwest emo, sporting very present guitars with a touch of overdrive. Their melodies are very jovial and sometimes have a djenty bounce to them that is quite fun. Their songs can also be quite dynamic: sometimes emulating the twinkly, spiritual atmosphere of Explosions In the Sky or the crushing intensity of This Will Destroy You. While I do enjoy listening to it, I tend to prefer my instrumental rock more on the flashier, zanier, or emotionally grander side. Totorro's pop-leaning songwriting feels tailored for vocalists, and yet with no vocals, a dimension to their music feels missing. As a result, I can't really pick out a clear standout from the record. Perhaps the first single Bernard Guez is the most likely track I would revisit as it does have some lovely guitar interplay and harmonies. Despite a lull in the middle, it also makes an aggressive return before finishing with an intricate outro. It's a decent record overall, but I'm not really seeing what makes Totorro's music distinct from the rest of the instrumental, slightly math rock-peppered field.