On CarPark Records’ website, Toro y Moi (AKA Chaz Bundick, AKA Chaz Bear after recently changing his name) explains that the idea of space within music played heavily into the philosophy of ‘Boo Boo’, and cites artists like Daft Punk, Frank Ocean and Travis Scott as creative influences. ‘I recognized that the common thread between these artists was their attention to a feeling of space’, he writes, ‘or lack thereof’.

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Surely enough, ‘spacious’ is an ideal word to describe this project. Beginning with ‘Mirage’, the opening track, we start sinking slowly into a large, cushy mattress of analog synths, with funky drum patterns acting as the box spring providing support. And, while the palette here is purposely limited, the amount of feeling Chaz is able to evoke while remaining within a narrow range of instruments and styles is impressive – from the off-kilter bounciness of ‘Inside My Head’ to the mournful slow-dance anthem that is ‘You and I’.

Toro Y Moi’s ‘Boo Boo’ sounds like the soundtrack to a 1980’s prom heard through the hazy filter of a present-day dream.

The track list here makes for a smooth ride from start to finish, with very few bumps in between. In that sense, it’s hard to point out any real low points, but true high points are a bit hard to come by as well. ‘You and I’, with its ultra-dreaminess and pop undertones, is certainly a stand out, as is ‘Windows’; but, ultimately, ‘Boo Boo’ is a bit lacking in terms of climax. However, even at its worst, the album is still rife with great mood music, and has the potential to be much more than that depending on the listener and the setting.

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On ‘Girl Like You’, Toro Y Moi sings the line, ‘I’ll take you where you wanna be tonight’. Taken out of the context of a ballad, this promise becomes an apt description of the immersive powers that the music of “Boo Boo” possesses. Because, despite the occasional long-windedness you may encounter on a listen through, ‘Boo Boo’ is an album that is overwhelmingly deft in creating mood, atmosphere and, of course, space.

Toro Y Moi (AKA Chaz Bundick) is in peak form here, beautifully exercising restraint in every aspect of “Omaha”, while still coming up with something thoroughly textured. There are tinges of both love song and protest song to the tune, with Chaz’s diverse and understated lyrics floating calmly over this cool summer breeze of an instrumental. “I was thinkin’ wrong, yeah. You’re already gone, baby”, is nothing if not a quintessential Indie-rock chorus; and yet, it’s still as fresh sounding and catchy as one would expect from Toro Y Moi.

The only downside to the track – which does sound eerily like how I would expect a Nebraska afternoon to feel – is that it’s not indicative of a new Toro project on the way. But, considering it’s both killer and for a good cause, that disappointment can be overlooked. And, speaking of a good cause, “Our First 100 Days” is well worth checking out beyond just “Omaha”, considering it features a stacked line-up that also includes Angel Olsen, Joey Purp, Kami, and 96 others.

Right now, you have the choice between scrolling through another wave of toxic social media posts, or pressing play on a warm, pretty, and politically keen new Toro Y Moi song. It’s a pretty easy call.

Earlier this year, Chaz Bundick, aka Toro Y Moi, dropped a surprise mixtape, Samantha, for free download. He has now unveiled a video titled “Dada Art”, which features snippets of three tracks off the project: “Ambient Rainbow”, “Boo Boo Mobile”, and “Want” featuring with Washed Out. The lo-fi, vintage-styled visuals were directed by photographers Sagan Lockhart, Josh Terris, and Bundick himself. They feature a motel, some weed and vodka, a lot of money, as well as a Brad Pitt oil painting. Watch below.

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