JUNE: "I Am BeautifulÓ 7"

Friction Media

Another band from Chapel Hill? It seems almost impossible to keep abreast of things with all the new groups forming here, but the debut single from this local five-piece deserves some recognition. Unlike the many abrasive pop/alternative bands of Chapel Hill, June has a very simple, beautiful sound. Their music, while similar to that on England's Sarah Records, is neither linear or predictable. There are several fluxes in rhythms and tempos, and shifts from acoustic to electric guitar. At one moment we hear a straight-forward pop melody and the next, a subtle drift into a swing-like rap. June's uniqueness, however, stems from singer Kat Cook. While the music has a soothing warmth comparable to New Zealand's Cannanes, her vocals stand out with power and confidence, soaring coolly over everyone else. The combination is very effective and moving. Indeed, just because this is another band out of Chapel Hill doesn't mean that they sound like it. < i>(Zachary Bisacky)

Note: SF! Ad Manager Tricia Tuttle is guitarist for June. Friction Media founder Bob Boster is a SF! contributor. It's a small town, yes.

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