White Williams
White Williams is the project of Cleveland musician Joe Williams, and wow is it good! The debut album, Smoke, came out on November 6th, but I’ve just now given it enough of a listen to appreciate it. Blending samples, synths and drum machines, Williams creates a sound reminiscent of bands like Hot Chip and The Whitest Boy Alive (Erlend Øye’s project). The vocals are eerily similar to Hot Chip at some points, and that’s a great thing.
The songs are a perfect mix of danceable yet intelligently crafted music. Unlike some of his contemporaries (Girl Talk, Dan Deacon), Williams avoids becoming too self-indulgent: the glitchy effects are kept in check and the beats are adequately adorned with catchy melodies. Not to mention the cover of “I Want Candy.”
Check out a couple standout tracks below. And be sure to pick up the album, if only to ogle the cover art featuring bawling twin Sophia Lamars smoking from a hookah.
