Toro Y Moi: June 2009

     

     It is a shame that the chillwave movement has become so saturated that some of the pioneers are being pushed to the side.  Such is the case of Chaz Bundick, AKA Toro Y Moi, whose drowsy beats and synth lines helped open the floodgates for nominal acts imitating his beachy sound.  Although the medium itself is now overplayed, Toro Y Moi still proves his worth, and with his release of June 2009, gives his fans a great history lesson of his chillwave journey.
     As can be inferred from the name, June 2009 is a collection of songs Bundick recorded during that respective time frame.  The album proves interesting, as it serves as a perfect precursor to his breakthrough debut Causers of This.  It highlights Bundicks progression from indie rock into electronic, and the slow genesis of his now (in)famous chillwave sound.  The album shows him experimenting with the laid back funky sounds of his later work, and him sowing the seeds of the movement he helped create.  It is interesting to hear Bundick to only begin to investigate the layering and beatwork that he would later perfect, and sometimes the listener can hear a clash with the more indie rock instrumentation of the album.  Whereas Bundick's other works were part of a designated LP set, his trademark seamless fluidity is not present in June 2009.  However, the album is about as cohesive as a compilation can get.  While the album is not a classic, it is a nice frame of reference for his career.
     In a world of modern chillwave, Toro Y Moi reigns supreme.  Those who criticize the sub-genre on the whole should really take inventory of the stamps he left on a truly creative, albeit crowded, style of music.  Anyone wondering Bundick's credibility should hear June 2009, when the Toro Y Moi, and chillwave on the whole, was still in its infant stages.