Kevin Bronson on August 31st, 2010

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As alluring a shapeshifter as “The Shores” might be, there’s a wry conceptual disconnect in the Sea of Cortez’s first single. The six-minute track begins with moody atmospherics, pulsates a little, and then Christian Thomas sings: “Testing the waters from the shore.” Which, of course, is no way to gauge anything. The accelerating rhythms and melody in the song offer plenty of payoff, though, with a bit of the anthemic feel of Arcade Fire/Broken Social Scene/Band of Horses. The L.A.-via-San Diego indie-rockers will be dipping their toes in the lake this fall when they release their five-track “Testing the Waters” EP.

||| Live: The Sea of Cortez performs Sept. 9 at 3 Clubs as part of the Rumble, and Sept. 26 at the Dodger Stadium Flea Market. The band will also announce live dates Sept. 12 in Santa Barbara and Sept. 15 in San Diego, as well as three West Coast dates beginning Sept. 30 with First Aid Kit and Ferraby Lionheart.

||| Stream: “The Shores”

Photo by Cooper