Fun Fun Fun Fest 2014 Sunday Reviews

Gardens & Villa

After a three-year layoff, Santa Barbara quintet Gardens & Villa return with sophomore effort Dunes, 39 minutes of frontman Chris Lynch's airy vocals wrapped in a haze of synth. He enchants with a smattering of flute interludes, juxtaposing technology and nature on the astral "Chrysanthemums." Hypnotizing beats ("Purple Mesas") jump-start nerve endings, "Avalanche" winks at disco, and Lynch's delicate falsetto steals the show. The muted intro to "Minnesota" serves as a momentary reprieve from the mounds of bubbly electronics, helping the crew avoid overdose. They've clearly outgrown the indie rock of their eponymous 2011 debut, dialing up the grooves and down the strum. Dunes ends on "Love Theme," trapping the built-up energy and releasing it in a wordless electro musing. (1:30pm, Orange stage)