Peloton

This spot will usually be reserved for more recent releases, but since this is our very first Saturday Morning CD Spotlight, the precedent hasn't been set and I wanted to give some credit to a cd I've been listening to a lot lately. Strangely schizophrenic, yet somehow equally cohesive, the debut EP from Peloton combines elements of shoegazey space rock, twee and power-pop for a lush 6 song journey that ends way too soon. Vocalists Miyako Ueki and Brian Jackson trade songs throughout the EP with Ueki singing in Japanese and Jackson in English before the two sing together on the final track. Both singers' lazy, hushed voices ride within the music, never doing too much or too little, Jackson's voice falls somewhere between Elliot Smith and the Apples In Stereo's Robert Schneider. The first five songs on the cd are soft, atmospheric, keyboard driven pop but the final song, the mp3 linked above, "We Could Be", sounds remarkably like Rocketship, combining big gutars with cute boy/girl vocals. It's easily the standout track, and hopefully points the way for Peloton's future output. According to their myspace page, the band is currently in the studio recording their first full-length, but you can see them November 30th at the Bagel Radio Presents show at Club 6.

- Deli Magazine SF

Peloton's self-titled EP is a classy, sassy, and altogether addictive affair of hook-laden atmospheric pop rock. Miyako Ueki's catchy keyboard melodies and Brian Jackson's soft, sensitive vocal style are like spoonfuls of sugar that allow the subtly sarcastic lyrics to go down with ease. Standout tracks include "Out of Mind" and "Static Line." - Jenny Miyasaki

The final line of the opening song on Peloton’s new self-titled disc is “Fuck all the little birds.” That’s just how cool this band is. Their brand of laid-back indie rock is so tightly wound and sweetly orchestrated that it works in the background or at the forefront. Atmospheric guitars and special effects romp atop a swiftly driving drumbeat that makes you feel like driving down a long dark road at night.
Miyako Ueki’s vocals on “Blue Field” bring to mind the more whimsical moments of Bjork’s early career, as her band backs her up like the Byrds circa 1965. By the time the synthesizer solo comes in at the end, the song has fluttered through just about every possible genre except for death metal.
The sweetest song on the disc is no doubt the ethereal “For Anyone Who’ll Listen,” as Peloton moves from the hypnotic pop and rock sounds of its other songs into a more experimental psychedelic realm. Just when it feels like it’ll be a great instrumental, Miyako comes in again. It doesn’t matter that she’s not singing in English, because the song makes enough sense as it is. Besides, the vocals are so much in the background that they’re hard to hear anyway, and the main focus hear is clearly how well Peloton gels as a band.
Peloton literally means “ball” in English, but the full definition deals with bicycle riders who accommodate one another in the perfect formation for a road race. It’s a fabulous name for this innovative band that blends so many competing sounds into one workable, lovely unit. Peloton is a fabulous debut for a band that sounds like a meeting of Cibo Matto, Death Cab for Cutie, and Jefferson Airplane. The album is nostalgic and experimental at the same time, integrating all things that make pop music fun and rock music ... well, rock. (Self-released)
www.peloton-sounds.com
-Kim Ruehl
- Kim Ruehl

Madchester by way of Texas, Detroit and even Japan, this San Francisco quartet's first EP outing is intelligent indie-pop in its best form. A beautiful experiment in multi-layered, fuzzed-out breezy summer indie-pop, this is timeless music that will never sound old or dated. Each member brings their own tastes and experiences to the music but all share a fondness for the finest in 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s Pop, rock, Folk & Psych, Madchester, Shoegazer and everything else that hit their ears and eyes and stuck. Do you like the Boo Radleys, Stereolab, James, Ride, Origin, My Bloody Valentine, Stone Roses, Charlatans UK, Mercury Rev, Verve?....cool...me too...oh, and I also like Peloton...I like it alot.
- Noelle Corcoran

A few weeks ago, Miyako Ueki, vocalist-keyboardist for Peloton, sent me a link to the band's new Web site, and I've been hooked ever since. Peloton makes precious indie-pop to dance around your apartment to in your underwear. - Bill Picutres