Conjuring the sounds of the Cretaceous period (sorry, couldn't resist) Brooklyn newcomers Dinosaur Feathers first came to my attention through their intriguing four-track EP 'Early Morning Risers'. With the cyberspace buzz around the New Yorkers building with every electric live performance around their home city and with every mention on the wonderfully named music blog 'Pop Tarts Suck Toasted', I thought it would be a smart bet to get onto the bandwagon early before it starts careening away.  

On first listen of their debut LP 'Fantasy Memorial' I couldn't help but make comparisons to bands like Vampire Weekend (the tribal rhythms and jungle beats are unmistakable) and Animal Collective (think experimental sounds and alien atmospheres). Lofty company indeed. In fact, the band's lead songwriter lists the latter group, along with the Ruby Suns, as some of his main influences.  

Opening track 'I Ni Sogoma' ('good morning' in Malian) transports the listener immediately to the poverty-ridden landlocked West-African nation, complete with birds chirping in the background and tribal drums (courtesy of one helluva drum machine) beating such a steady rhythm that we can't help agreeing with the refrain "you can't fight the feelings that live in your heart". I found myself listening to this track over-and-over again, often in tandem with the aggressively named, 'Teenage Whore'. With a swelling choral refrain of "teenage whore, where do you get off?" it's hard not to love and sing-a-long with gusto. Sandwiched in between these two gems is the placid, by comparison, 'Vendela Vida' which evokes a more laid-back summer vibe backed by a Spanish sound.  

Personal favourite 'Family Waves' utilises stirring metaphoric imagery likening family dynamics to the sometimes unstoppable ebbs and tides of the ocean: "fighting the family waves". Teamed with some fantastic guitar work and what seems to be an increasingly signature harmonization, it's the song with the greatest staying power. The latter half of the album doesn't quite live up to the extremely ambitious heights set by the opener, but highs around found in the bluesy 'Holy Moses' which contains the achingly beautiful lament "holy moses, take a chance on me" and a rare harmony-less track carried admirably by a sole singer, 'Know Your Own Strength. 'Sleeping In' shows a darker, almost hypnotic side, to the band and whilst it initially seems quite incongruous amongst the more upbeat songs, it swells to an evocative hand-clapping crescendo. The weakest song on the album, 'Crossing Cannon', seems almost lifeless in comparison to the luscious mix of sounds Dinosaur Feathers seem to have squeezed into 46 minutes.  

It's the eclecticism that gets me so excited about this band, some tracks are stronger than others and I think they're still searching for their sound but no track is without merit. Each offers something new and shows them pushing their own musical boundaries. Who knows, maybe like Panda Bear and the gang they'll never allow fans and critics to pin them down to one "sound". Either way it's going to be one hell of a ride, so jump on and hold tight.

Review Score: 8/10

'Fantasy Memorial' will be available from the Australian iTunes Music Store from March 2.