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They’re called Mansions, but the music is anything but lavish. Mansions relishes the musky, unironic, unromantic realm of indie rock and they do it with genuine charisma. It’s a guitar, bass and drums outfit that seems bent on bringing a lo-fi mindset to high-concept composition. If Autolux smiled once in a while, they’d sound like Mansions.

Christopher Browder is the founder and former lone member of Mansions and it’s his bedroom attack of indie formula that sets their music apart from any number of face-value comparisons. In a time when bands are increasingly broad in scope, Browder keeps it simple and focused. They don’t sample, there aren’t melodramatic builds or disco synthesizers; Mansions is undecorated indie rock for anti-hipsters.

That undressed approach is not only a central charm for their albums, it’s a big part of why their live show packs such a punch. As a complete touring group, Mansions brings their songs to life with energy and impressive loyalty, which, for a former bedroom experiment is not always the easiest thing. They know themselves, they know their sound and they know what they do well which gives them the confidence to keep it simple. Browder may be the central character in Mansions, but it’s clear from a mile away that the trio is damn near factory manufactured to play together. Who knows how they got so lucky to find each other, but let’s be happy they did.

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