By and large, Book of Colors is the brainchild of songwriter André Paraguassu whose longtime immersion in the local scene, coupled with his willingness to collaborate, experiment, and explore, has enabled him to surround himself with an impressive collection of talent. His band’s debut LP features contributions from fourteen local players that includes members of Little Tybee, Faun and a Pan Flute, Adron, and more, making the self-titled record as much a product of the local music community as it is his own artistic vision.

The album’s lead track and first single, “Why Don’t You,” is a rich blend of pensive chamber folk, artful psychedelic rock, and existential musings all wrapped in a dense orchestral blanket. It’s a track built to delight and stir the senses with surprises and unexpected twists lurking throughout and a mix of moods that seem to shift with each new arrangement. There’s a certain level of whimsy here — those tiny triangle bursts and flutes fluttering overhead can’t help but draw smiles — but also a kind of rustic tranquility as well as the sort of quiet solemnity that arises when you install an admonishing phrase like “Why don’t you do all you know?” as your song’s central refrain.

This is not to say the songwriting is unfocused or scattershot; on the contrary, for all its many moods and layers, “Why Don’t You” sounds remarkably uncluttered. Every movement and sound is placed just so, neat and tidy like a Wes Anderson diorama but without the irony or fastidious attention to detail. Paraguassu’s vocals, while lacking some depth, are just soulful enough to compliment the music without distracting from the song’s cinematic atmospherics or psychedelic density. It’s all a deft balancing act, and Book of Colors pull it off in grand style. Listen below.

Book of Colors is out February 5 on CD and cassette via Deer Bear Wolf.

Book of Colors will celebrate the release of their debut LP on Saturday, February 27 when they play in support of Little Tybee at Terminal West. Fellow locals Hello Ocho open the show. Doors at 8 p.m. Admission is $12 in advance or $15 at the door.

More Info:
Web: bookofcolors.com
Facebook: @Book-of-Colors-63389573566
Instagram: @bookofcolorsmusic
Twitter: @bookofcolors