"What For?" - Toro Y Moi [Official Full Album Stream + Zumic Review]

Toro Y Moi's new album What For? sees Chazwick Bradley Bundick move his project further away from chillwave beats and closer to something that resembles the love-child between '60s / '70s pop rock and the neo-psychedelia revival.

Of the album, Bundick said, "I've done electronic R&B and more traditional recorded type R&B stuff. I just wanted to see what else was out there. It's all coming from the same mindset and point of creativity. It's just me trying to take what I already have, and then take it further." He uses this mindset to expand on his former style and step into unexplored territory, which is the mark of a great artist.

Right after you hit the play button, swirling synths bleed into fuzzy guitars. Harmonized vocals and catchy melodies create the unavoidable and awesome comparison to Tame Impala's Innerspeaker. What For? doesn't rock out quite as hard as the Aussie musicians do, and remains relatively laid back for its duration.

The album also boasts a fair bit of danceable drumbeats and funky guitar upstrokes, at times sounding like a natural extension of Daft Punk's Random Access Memories. Both records were recorded, at least in part, in California and completely embody that West Coast, laid-back vibe.

As spring approaches, this is the perfect soundtrack for sun-drenched days in the park and road tripping. What For? flirts with vintage rock sound, but it also sounds similar to contemporary indie up-and-comers like Mac Demarco and Real Estate. It's catchy and sweet, but also exploratory and well-played. For his fifth LP, Bundick has proven to be an even better-varied artist than we thought.

What For? comes out April 7, 2015. You can pre-order the album on Amazon (Vinyl, CD, MP3). You can also stream the full album above, via Spotify.

For Toro Y Moi's music, news, and tour dates, check out his Zumic artist page.