Kevin Bronson on January 31st, 2011

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The Wind did not take the notion of their debut release lightly. The Long Beach-based quartet didn’t tease with a single, or an EP, or even just a full-length album. No, “Harum-Scarum,” the collection that Kevin Jaemes, Chad Marshman and Chip and Nick Knechtel unveiled in November, is a double-album – all 23 tracks and 86 minutes of it. The guys had released an EP of whimsical pop as the Austin James Band in 2008, but under their new moniker they’ve managed to follow the breezes of classic pop, taking the genteel melodies, harmonies and arrangements of the ’60s and bending them into heartfelt torch songs, neo-show tunes and mini-anthems with arena-rock aspirations. Though not exhibiting the mystic genius, it reminds you of Richard Swift’s pop explorations. There’s a lot to sort out on “Harum-Scarum,” but the quartet is giving away a download of Disc 1 to get you started.

|| Stream: “Oh Hadihu” [audio:http://www.mediafire.com/file/nmdykdelkkzam6a/The%20Wind%20-%20Oh%2C%20Hadihu.mp3]

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