ZapTown

Ola Podrida
Belly of the Lion
Western Vinyl
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Link: http://olapodrida.com/

Belly of the Lion is a gentle giant, seeping into your ear drums like a sleepy sunrise. Majestic and wistful, David Wingo’s combination of his smooth singing and smoother indie pop make for a wonderful sophomore release.

Although I can do without “Donkey” or “This Old World” and the unnecessary usage of the banjo, “The Closest We Will Ever Be” and “Lakes Of Wine” — containing the best use of the E-Bow I have heard — purely defines Wingo’s niche for incredible indie folk pop.

Whether in the soft-lit folk intimacy or a subtly sonic power pop construct, this man can make notes twinkle. The less he tries to bounce off of antique instruments and sound like Iron & Wine or Blind Pilot, and the more he tries to just be himself, the better. But then again, I’m more of a fan of his dapplings of shoegaze that softly creeps into much of this album.

And what makes Belly Of The Lion more impressive than the debut is that Wingo has stripped himself down to just himself and band mate Matthew Frank, proving that less is more and creating an illusion that the intimate moments become more intimate and the broader-based songs are fuller than what many full piece bands are capable of.