If Cryptacize were a magic box, sometimes you’d open it and a lullaby about fields of honey would hypnotize you. Other times, a guitar monster would snarl at you threateningly, but that even comes out kinda sweet and swoony. It’s cool the way evil can have baby doll eyes and cute little hands.—This music is not evil, that’s just a tangent. But, there is certainly a fair share of dark shadows beneath Cryptacize’s flower petals. Sometimes this emerges in a hard guitar strum, other times the lyrics deliver messages about a moon laughing at us, blue tears falling, wanting to escape through the ceiling, seeking a lost lover on a stolen horsie, and such—but you just want to squeeze it to your chest like a teddy bear, or, in keeping with the magic box image, stick your hand in there and find pudding.

“Tail & Mane,” which is the first song on Cryptasize’s album Mythomania, rules because it has the upbeat, romantic, melody of Four Seasons and the soft haziness of Carpenters but translated through a survivor of ’90s girl fronted rock. Anything that has the Carpenters in it is ok! by me. Lots of Carpenters here. Cryptacize carpenterizes so good. Note: Crypt’s Nedelle and Chris are a couple rather than siblings, and there’s more people in the band…

As the songs progressed during the band’s set, thoughts transcend Beach Boys, and visit Beachhouse sans echo trails, stare at the sea with the Cure, climb through a popping bass strolling Superfly, and suddenly a cowboy appears, faintly. I can only hope that Cryptacize’s moving to L.A. this summer will entice that cowpoke apparition hiding behind the endless summer beach party to hang out for a clambake. This band will fit right in. The crowd packed belly to back at Echo Curio certainly gave the impression of an impending warm welcome.

—Daiana Feuer