Last year's Causers of This album introduced Toro Y Moi – one South Carolinian called Chaz Bundick – as a dreamy synergist at the forefront of a new sound, tentatively known as chillwave. At a ratio of roughly one-third Air, one-third Animal Collective and one-third hip-hop production technique, Bundick's electronic compositions thrummed past on thermals, topped off by his aerated vocals. This second effort takes in retro pop, soundtracks, live instrumentation and the Beach Boys, but loses Toro's all-important digital edge. Underneath The Pine is relentlessly beatific. But with no contrast of texture or mood, it merely ends up as an album of well-made and stylish retro pastiches.
