Listen: Mr Twin Sister - "Echo Arms"

After releasing the first of their new singles "Jaipur" a month ago, New York dance pop experimentalists Mr Twin Sister are back once again to drop another song of the summer contender in "Echo Arms". Though I assumed the reveal of a second single would herald the announcement of a new album, instead the quintet has announced an extensive North American tour this Fall as well as a 24 hour radio stream which they used to premiere the new single. Mr Twin Sister will feature original mixes as well as rarities and full album streams from the band. While "Jaipur" served as a sort of rallying cry towards trying to become a better, kinder person in a time that it's not really seen as necessary, "Echo Arms" is a bit more carefree. Andrea Estrella is still sincere as hell despite the parody of streaming radio culture the band has packaged it up in. It's a groovier, more downtempo number that still is immediately ear-catching and toe-tapping inspired. Like "Jaipur" it's a melange of layered sounds - sweeping strings, synths, and a multitude of subtly deployed effects, "Echo Arms" is effortless an chill and breezy single that still manages to keep its eye on the prize as an all-consuming dance jam.



Mr Twin Sister are still being particularly cagey about whether a follow up to their 2014 self-titled sophomore record is forthcoming but as long as they keep dropping tracks like "Jaipur" and "Echo Arms", they can take their time with album release news.

Listen: Mr Twin Sister - "Jaipur"

photo by Jennifer Medina

Though not a particularly political band, New York experimental pop outfit Mr Twin Sister has managed to throw a great deal of their energy behind efforts they believe in: playing a benefit for  Hurricane Maria relief for Puerto Rico last Fall and the donation of proceeds from their previous single "Poor Relations" to the Standing Rock Sioux's fight against construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016 that it's hard not see new single "Jaipur" (named after the capital city of North Indian state of Rajasthan), as a similar though not exactly congruent political statement. It's hardly overt but there's a sense from the name itself and the the melange of instruments that appear that it's meant to be a celebration of diversity. Andrea Estella's lyrics are characteristically vague - universally applicable as she makes an appeal to be a kinder, stronger person. Less disco-fueled than any of their  self-titled sophomore full length, there's no denying the dance element that keeps the whole track shuffling along as a toe-tapping pace. Subtlety is the name of the game and Mr Twin Sister manage to stack their layers of strings, saxophone, and varied percussion with an impressive amount of clear precision that gives Estella's emotive vocals seemingly limitless room to crane and soar.

There's no telling if "Jaipur" is indicative of something larger (like the follow up to 2014's Mr Twin Sister) or meant to be a standalone single like "Poor Relations" and "The Erotic Book" but it's a delightful entry into their oeuvre that blends earnest songwriting with pretty straightforward dance pop sorcery.