8/10

While he has most undoubted made his name as the bass player in Vampire Weekend, Chris Baio has been releasing his own solo material under the name Baio for nearly as long as his band has been going. And after a number of short EPs and singles over the past few years, Baio has now unveiled his first studio album and fans of Vampire Weekend may been pleasantly surprised.

The album's lead single 'Sister Of Pearl' may have given the impression of a record filled with Vampire Weekend-esque riffs and eccentricities, but the majority of this new album is a far more electronic affair. Sticking mainly to high frequency melodies, which may seem strange for a bass player, the record blurs the lines between indie and electronica with a sheer brilliant finesse and sounds like it could have been recorded in the sun-drenched beach bars of Ibiza this summer.

While it is most definitely a step away from his other work in VW, 'The Names' is a real insight into the mind and talent of this successful musician. His direction and confidence within his work is astounding and makes for an incredibly enjoyable listen.