Hands officially released its debut album Synesthesia yesterday, immersing listeners in good vibes and catchy melodies.

Successfully meshing the sounds of alternative rock and pop, Hands creates a sound closely reminiscent of Passion Pit in its earlier stages blended with Foster the People. The band infuses each of its songs with a unique energy and manages to maintain these dynamics throughout the duration of the album.

Though it does possess a few mellower songs, Synesthesia is an upbeat, feel-good record, with the first single “Trouble” setting up a groove for the rest of the tracks. Definitely a shift from its earlier projects, Hands pursues quick and engaging tempos, aiming to blend lead singer Geoff Halliday’s resonant vocals into the songs more masterfully.

The instrumentals of the band are particularly worth noting, as they adeptly draw in listeners, even on the slower tracks. The drums, bass, and guitar merge spectacularly, enhancing and accentuating each aspect of the band’s music.

The momentum drifts in the second half of the album, starting with the song “House of Jars,” introducing a more relaxed atmosphere. Though these songs crescendo magnificently in the middle, they tend to simmer back down and return to their initial laidback pace.

Halliday’s vocals sound a little out of place in certain parts of the album, lacking articulation and cohesiveness with the band, forcing the synth-fused melodies behind him to save these sections of the songs. This tendency is embodied in “Nothing But Animals” as well as “Lonesome Body.”

Highlights of the album include “Elegant Road,” “Brave Motion,” and “Video Love,” all three of which represent the upbeat yet relaxed nature of the record.

Hands is able to showcase its creative potential through Synesthesia by not hesitating to experiment with different methods through the course of the album. Though the songs vary in rhythm and harmony, they all correspond to the band’s core sound and sentiment.