December 10, 2008
Boca Raton Magazine

South Florida’s The Postmarks made quite a splash with their 2007 self-titled debut, receiving glowing reviews from local outlets in addition to Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, the influential indie music webzine.

The core members are singer/lyricist Tim Yehezkely (a woman) and instrumentalists Jonathan Wilkins and Christopher Moll, who live throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties. In both albums, Yehezkely’s breathy vocals are layered over lush sonic landscapes, blending elements of French pop, cinematic scores and ’60s girl groups. The result is an offbeat, dreamy indie-pop that’s perfectly lounge-inducing.

The group’s sophomore album, “By-the-Numbers” (recorded in Fort Lauderdale), covers 12 songs by artists as varied as David Bowie, Bob Marley, The Byrds, The Cure, The Ramones, Blondie and The Pointer Sisters. As implied by the title (think paint by number), The Postmarks rely on the musical framework established by the original artists, but they’re not limited by it. The trio—with the help of guest artists like trumpeter Eddie Alonso and cellist/violinist Courtney Yeates—uses the original songs merely as a jumping off point. (You’ll also notice that each song, except the last, has a number in it corresponding to the track number. Plus, the images on the cover tie into the songs, too.)

Take Marley’s iconic “Three Little Birds,” for example. The Postmarks slow it down and stretch it out, transforming this bouncy reggae hit into an ethereal, airy lullaby. On The Cure’s “Six Different Ways,” background sounds of rain and thunder reflect the singer’s inner turbulence, while Yehezkely’s vocals remain mysteriously cool and detached.

It’s safe to say that The Postmarks have evaded the sophomore slump with this release, which further establishes them as one of South Florida’s most refreshing and promising musical acts. Catch them live at March’s Langerado festival in Miami (click here or visit langerado.com for more information).