Jatun are a two-piece group from Portland churning out blissful, largely instrumental electropop that’s completely unremarkable in comparison to the work of some of their contemporaries. Without the high drama of M83 or the melancholic vocals that lent MBV some of their emotional heft, Jatun seem destined to be background music. While “Bee Bee” is pleasant and even melodic, follower “Voila and the Case” manages to sound musically dated -- and not in the fun, vintage way. Elsewhere, “Fashion Whore” rides what has to be one of the most annoying percussion samples I’ve ever heard for four-and-a-half minutes. According to their press materials, Jatun’s tunes have been featured on snowboarding commercials and websites. The band’s frosty shimmery-ness could work well for that sort of thing, but as far as demanding, rapt listening goes, this isn’t quite doing it for me.
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