Cassual Leopards are an elusive bunch. While they’ve left a cryptic trace on the internet so far, they’ve been making the rounds in Mexico City’s electronic music circuit since 2010. They’ve mostly been moving through word of mouth, but now the secret’s out in the form of “Writing my mind,” the free single available for streaming and downloading on their Web site.
The band—formed by members John Vallejo, Briand Vallejo, and Jaime Díaz—plays a mixture of glossy, dark wave, and electropop, reminiscent of Daft Punk, M83, and Phoenix, while still sounding very local in their approach. Their first EP, Close Encounters, is full of dancefloor worthy tracks with ’80s style synths and pulsating drumbeats, accentuated by an ever-present cowbell. “Writing My Mind,” a standalone track, continues with the sound they’ve crafted along the way, except it’s a bit dreamier and chiller than most of the songs you’ll find in their catalog. It’s one of those tracks to get lost in, especially with that haunting choir on loop. Even though that sample eventually gets overpowered by bigger beats, it gives the song an almost calming effect while honoring the “Writing My Mind” title.