{grate 3}
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if the
flower-power music of the ’60s and the grudgingly infectious tunes of Walt
Disney made sweet, musical love, look no further than the whimsical,
psychedelic sounds of Cryptacize.

Despite the band’s sinister moniker, there’s no guitar
shredding grunge or pulsating bass to be found anywhere in their debut album,
Dig That Treasure. In fact, with elementary lyrics like “Every note is an
unfinished song/ we’re all in cosmic sing-a-long,” you’ve wondered if you
accidentally stepped into after-school special.

But don’t let the lullaby vocals fool you; underneath these
simple melodies is a funky, multifaceted sound. Though classified as pop, the
album defies labels with its unpredictable harmony, often changing pitch and
pace mid-song, like TV stuck on channel surf. With broad electric guitar work here
(“We’ll Never Dream Again”), and a condensed drumbeat there (“The Shape
Above”), it’s almost improvisational, with odd instruments blended together
like knick-knacks from a junkyard. It should feel discordant or erratic, but
the melodious vocalization of lead singers Nedelle Torrisi and Chris Cohen
guide us along on the escapist experience (no hallucinogenic drugs necessary).