On the heels of his 2013 debut EP Virginia under the San Cristobal moniker, Ann Arbor, Michigan, songwriter Jacob Sigman has unveiled two new cuts for his distinctive take on power pop. Now a full band, San Cristobal injects a rich and infectious vibrancy into the tracks composing the double-single “Mr. Wise Man” and “Lovely Lisa”.
Both songs have the whimsy of ‘60s British psychedelic pop — think the Kinks or mid-career Beatles. For a more contemporary comparison, they have that bazaar troupe vibe of Arcade Fire, albeit without the self-serious moodiness.
“Mr. Wise Man” opens with yearning vocals and a forlorn piano melody, which quickly turns irreverent with the addition of stomping percussion and horn bleats. “Lovely Lisa” features jaunty, somewhat Latin rhythms with compelling drum and saxophone dueling. Paired together, the songs are simultaneously forward-leaning baroque pop confections and historically-minded pieces of songwriting.