To say that the last five years has been a busy time for Wolf Parade's frontmen Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug is something of an understatement. In that time they have released together as Wolf Parade and separately through their side projects with Handsome Furs (Boeckner) and Sunset Rubdown (Krug) a staggering ten albums. One might think this could have adverse effect on the quality of the material produced, but the opposite is true. The third release from Wolf Parade, Expo 86, is a tight, brooding beast of an album; it hits the ground running and doesn't slow down over the ensuing fifty five minutes.
With Krug contributing six tracks and Boeckner five, the pair have a definite symbiosis, both lyrically and instrumentally. The reverbing guitars and fuzz-laden synths allow each another space when necessary while also smashing together on occasion to create a tension that is darker and edgier than their previous albums, Apologies To Queen Mary (2005) and At Mount Zoomer (2008).
The album kicks off with somewhat bizarre lyrics from Krug on 'Cloud Shadow On The Mountain', "I was asleep in a hammock, I was dreaming that I was a web. I was a dreamcatcher hanging in the window of a mini-van..", his quivering vocals then lamenting "I'd say that I was all alone..." the track is high tempo with tight riffs and like many tracks to follow, completely danceable. This was something they set out to achieve, in fact the main criteria Spencer Krug had for the songs was “whether or not he would dance to them". 'In The Direction Of The Moon' is a standout song, starting with deep warbling synths that ebb and flow all the way through the following five minutes, it's a likely candidate for a remix or to be used as a sample, something that hasn't previously sprung to mind from a Wolf Parade track. At times it sounds somewhat dishevelled, but it works, and flows seamlessly into the brilliant 'Ghost Pressure'. Immediately accessible, this track was one of the first released prior to the album, and again Krug's keys dominate. It crashes into the next track, 'Pobody's Nerfect', another of Boeckner's, giving the guitar-work centre stage, as it rises and crashes, having a big arena feel to it one minute before zooming in to a more intimate space.
The album takes things down a notch with 'Yulia', a bitter-sweet tale of longing and distance, "So when they turn the cameras on you, Baby please don’t speak of me, Point up to the dark above you, As they edit me from history". The closer for Expo 86, picks up the tempo again with 'Cave-o-Sapian', spacey keyboards penetrating more strange lyrics.."I had a vision of a gorilla, he was a killer! A killer!". It's a catchy, unabashed sing along track, a great way to finish the album, summing up the tone of this cohesive piece of work.
Expo 86 received its title after the four members worked out they had all attended the World's Fair in Vancouver as kids during the same week. The album leaves you with a feeling of a having had a good fun time, as you get from just experienced a damn good festival (or World's Fair).
This record is testimony to the talents of the members of Wolf Parade, and the fact that though the dichotomy of the frontmen's position across the indie scene has them channelling energy into other projects, they can still come together to produce an album that works, and leaves you with a sense of fulfilment and a time well spent.
Dave Roberts - July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
News
FOR A MORE THAN MINOR REFLECTION ON AN ICY PARADISE
While the dust still hasn't settled after the loose and abhorrently selfish behaviour of elements within the global financial community that led to the global financial crisis, one country that continues to feel it harder than most in the West is Iceland. During the crisis, its three national banks went bankrupt and its financial system virtually imploded in the biggest economic collapse ever suffered by a country in history. The recent splurge of volcanic ash deepened the gloom as many people cancelled their planned trips and potential tourists stayed away. However, signs of recovery are evident as other European countries get dragged further into the mire, check Ireland, and Iceland gradually returns to health.
Recently, the tourism industry and the government along with a variety of artists launched an internet campaign, Inspired By Iceland, to try and lure tourists to the picturesque North Atlantic country. Among artists to have contributed to the campaign through a mixture of music and nature are For A Minor Reflection, a melodic post rock band from Reykjavik just out of their teens. This week saw the release of their debut album, Höldum í átt að óreiðu, which loosely translates into English as Feel Towards Chaos. The first single, 'Dansi Dans', or 'Dance Dance' was lent to the aforementioned campaign and saw the band play the track on the shores of Hellnar. Check out the video below, its inspiring stuff. The album is out in Europe on September 6.
Dansi Dans
For A Minor Reflection (ICE)
From the album, 'Höldum í átt að óreiðu', Unsigned.
WHAT WE HELD ON TO, SHIGETO PAINTS A LANDSCAPE WITH NEW EP
Zach Saginaw (aka Shigeto) proved himself to be a forerunner in the post millennium electro genre with his previous EP Semi Circle, which we featured on Indie30 earlier this year. Now, the nice folks over at Ghostly International are offering a free download of the Brooklyn based producer's new EP What We Held On To, precursor to the new LP Full Circle, dropping in the northern hemisphere's fall season. His new offering promises to be a full experience for the senses with dense layers, creeping synths and sharp edgy percussion marking Shigeto's complex style.
The new EP brings us five tracks, rich in texture and atmosphere, they indicate the intelligence, hard work and experience Saginaw has achieved over the last ten years. From Detroit and London to Brooklyn, he has taken it all in and this music is the outcome. It's a unique sound. 'After The Smoke', the second track in begins with a French-spoken female voice-over and then slides into one sexy sounding piece of electro. The title track 'What We Held Onto' has an analogue Atari sound going on, before turning a corner into something just beautiful, like rounding a bend on a country drive to see the most amazing sunset spread out before you. The sound is embracing, warm and one of his sweetest moments.
The use of vocals, expertly used in the EP's final track; 'Grandma's Words / Rise out Of The Stone', seemingly emerging from the ether, add another dimension to his work. We hear a woman speaking of Pearl Harbour, of hearing about the bombings on the radio, of being Japanese in America, and of how people can turn on you. It's haunting stuff. When you learn about Saginaw's Japanese heritage (Shigeto is his middle name and that of his grandfather) you can appreciate the personal ties deeply embedded within the track. The vocals slip away and waves of beautiful synths rise and fall sweetly with the beat kicking in at around the three minute mark. It's a fine example of how a piece of instrumental electro can evoke images, emotions, and even a storyline over a blissful eight minutes.
With the LP aptly titled, Full Circle to be released later in 2010, these five delicately arranged and deeply personal tracks are a good indication of what he has in store for us.
The mountain they are named after is big and if there is one thing Seattle's Mt. St Helen's Vietnam Band are not short of, its musical ambition. Big name, big sound. Hot on the heels of last years self titled debut album, the hard working quartet formed in early 2008 are set to release the sprawling follow up, Where The Messengers Meet on August 3 through Dead Oceans. The album packs more ideas into single tracks than many albums can boast in totality with the band oscillating between pychedelic and prog-rock sensibilities and spiky post punk tendencies all held together by a cleverly constructed attention to melodic detail. The drum and percussion work and indeed the rhythm section in general gives drive to that detail. Two tracks, 'Hurrah' and 'Leaving Trails' have already been offered as free downloads and we have the latter below.
Tracklisting
1. At Night 2. Leaving Trails 3. The Roof 4. Hurrah 5. Not To Know 6. You Were/I Was 7. Gone Again 8. Bitter Cold 9. In A Hole 10. Cadence 11. Messengers 12. George Clark
Leaving Trails
Mt St Helens Vietnam Band (USA)
From the forthcoming album, 'Where The Messengers Meet', Dead Oceans.
A new day for the Whip Around and a stack of news to report on. So, let's get stuck in without delay!
NEW DEBUT RELEASE FROM MOUNT KIMBIE
London duo Mount Kimbie (Dominic Maker and Kai Campos) have released two EPs and produced remixes for XX and Foals, showing their talent at making blissfull feel-good dubstep that seems to float gently like a soft summer breeze. Crooks and Lovers is the hotly anticipated long player fans have been waiting for, and you can catch them live as they play a heap of festivals across Europe and North America from next week right through until the end of October. Full tour dates and a free download at their myspace here.
THE WALKMEN TO RELEASE NEW LP LISBON IN SEPTEMBER
The New York and Philidelphia based indie rockers have their sixth LP, Lisbon, ready to drop September 14, via Fat Possum Records. Having begun recording last year, they ended up with 28 tracks and have whittled the list down to eleven. They are embarking upon a massive tour over the next three months taking in Canada, the U.S. and England, including the Leeds and Reading festivals. You can stream four of the new tracks here @ Onethirtybpm. Full tour dates at The Walkmen's myspace here.
LES SAVY FAV ROOT FOR RUIN
Also on September 14, also with eleven tracks, Les Savy Fav bring out their fifth album Root For Ruin. The recording was done at Gigantic Studios with Chris Zane on the dials again after working on 2007's Let's Stay Friends. The LP is out on Frenchkiss, owned by the band's bass player Syd Butler, who has said of the group "The big challenges come when I am in label mode and talking to my bandmates...it's like herding cats". Check out their website here.
NEW LAND OF TALK ALBUM OUT ON SADDLE CREEK
August 24 is the date fans of Land Of Talk are waiting for, with the release of Cloak And Cipher, follow up to 2008's Some Are Lakes. Elizabeth Powell, one third of the band (and also part of The Broken Social Scene collective) wrote most of the tracks over six months while recovering from vocal polyp surgery. Joe Yarmusch and Adrian Barr complete the Land Of Talk trio, and look out for contributions from Patrick Watson plus members of Besnard Lakes, Stars, Arcade Fire, Thee Silver Mt. Zion and Esmerine. Look out for their tour across Canada and the U.S. from September through November. Full details at their myspace here.
EL GUINCHO'S BOMBAY JUST THE TONIC FOR SUMMER, NEW LP TO COME SOON
Pablo Díaz-Reixa (aka El Guincho) has released a new single that captures the blistering sound of summer, 'Bombay', as a taste of what is to come with his new LP Pop Negro due out later this year. This track, like his previous EP, Piratas De Sudamerica, is a sample free zone, with everything you hear made by him alone. Pablo wrote the track while on a Singapore stop-over after an Australian tour, in a stinking hot hotel room. The title is from his choice of gin that night. 'Bombay' was produced in four studios; Berlin, Madrid, Gran Canaria and Barcelona and was mixed by Jon Gass. Grab a summery sample for yourself at his website here, or from the Top30 where it has entered the charts at number 28. Keep posted here for the new album set for release around September, which is shaping up to be a massive month for indie music indeed.
This week sees the addition of five new entries in the Top 30 and leading the charge is Panda Bear with his new single Tomboy (18) off the forthcoming album of the same name. Joining the Brooklyn based retro-experimental electronic wizard are Canadian acts, the Montreal indie rock trio Land Of Talk, 'Swift Coin' (24) and Hamilton native Kid Years, aka Haydon Taylor, '33 Reasons (To Go To The Park)' (26). Baltimore four piece Lower Dens enter at 25 with 'Tea Lights' and El Guincho, aka Coconut member and Barcelona based Pablo Diaz-Reixa sneaks in at 28 with his new track 'Bombay' off his forthcoming album, Pop Negro. Another Canadian band, Women, the impressive four piece out of Calgary moves up a massive 15 places to 4 this week with the first single, 'Eyesore' off their forthcoming LP. Active Child (Pat Grossi) remains at 1 with 'When Your Love Is Safe' off his EP, Curtis Lane. Thirty fantastic tracks this week!
ON A NEVER-ENDING ROAD TRIP AND AT PEACE WITH THE WORLD
I've always been amazed how the genre of country music can often manage to mask the emotional pain of lost love with music that is joyous and uplifting. There's always an air of optimism in the most harrowing of tales, if not lyrically then certainly music wise. Here's To Taking It Easy, the fourth (or fifth if you include To Willie) long player from Athens, Georgia native Matthew Houck under the Phosphorescent moniker, while the tales are not harrowing, can certainly be described in these terms. Not a straight up country record in any traditional sense in that it combines pop and rock sensibilities and after all is an indie record, Here's To Taking It Easy has an air of positivity on the surface and despite the difficulties life throws up, Houck advocates the useful adage of just getting up and getting on with it. There's a sense of fallibility in these songs but also a sense of the subject knowing how to cope with his shortcomings, at peace with who he is. Even a cursory glance at the subject matter of each track reads like a highly effective, highly confident coping mechanism. Houck's Phosphorescent moniker is certainly appropriate.
That mechanism surfaces when speaking of his own insignificance on 'Nothing Was Stolen (Love Me Foolishly)'; 'so apart from the things I touched, nothing got broke all that much'
The tale of life on the road and having to neglect that significant other is the subject of 'We'll Be Here Soon' but Houck insists on giving time the arse and insisting to his partner; 'raise your glass and raise it more, and praise and laugh and praise some more, and you know, we'll be here soon'.
Heartbreak is all over 'The Mermaid Parade' but similarly self re-assurance aids the subject of the song to overcome his wife's infidelity; '...and yeah I found a new friend too, and yeah she's pretty and small, but god damn it Amanda, god damn it all'.
In fact, you get a sense that no matter what happens, Houck is resigned to the randomness of life's journey and there's little point in worrying about things you cannot alter. Witness 'I Don't Care If There's Cursing', the ultimate lyrical lesson in shoulder shrugging. Come what may indeed.There's even resignation hanging leaden over 'Tell Me Baby (Have You Had Enough) as the protagonists life in bars on the road is taking more than a toll on his relationship. The rhetorical question is consistently asked 'But tell me honey have I gone too far'. The answer is known before the question is asked and an answer is not required. At the same time, there's little sign that the eternal tourist is going to change his ways. That theme of road and relationship is continued on 'Heavin Sittin' Down' and the outcome is the same.
This theme of leaving things to fate is somewhat challenged on the Neil Young inspired final track 'Los Angeles' where Houck roasts those music heads in the industry who trade in lies and deceit in search of the all mighty dollar. But here, there's no shrugging of the shoulders but a firm determination to succeed on one's own terms; 'Said I ain't coming to Los Angeles baby, just to die'.
The lyrical themes are complemented by the uplifting and optimistic nature of the music, undoubtedly Houck's strong suit. The southern character in the musicianship on Here's To Taking It Easy is more than evident and first class in delivery. Each riff, each lick, each slide foray paints a panoramic picture of open wide vistas giving the sense of a nine track road trip of regret yet resignation. Houck even takes New York's Coney Island to a rural setting on 'The Mermaid Parade' and seemingly shouts Alabama's worth from the rooftops of a Brooklyn bar on the album's opener.
While every track excels on this record, the inclusion of the chant-laden 'Hej I'm Light' adds another dimension. Houck and friends repeat the mantra over and over again in joyous strains throughout the four minutes while a simple bass note rings out amid canoodling guitar and a laconic and hypnotic beat. Whenever I hear it, I just imaging grabbing come close friends, downing a few beers around the fire in the middle of winter and giving the collective vocal chords a damn good workout.
Sure, Houck's not going to win any prizes for orginality and his influences are clear for all to see but he has put together a package of tracks that have a seamless quality and Here's To Taking It Easy is a true album. Witness how We'll Be Here Soon' melts into 'The Mermaid Parade', I need not say no more. The change in musical direction that began after the release of the introspective Pride in 2006 and first surfaced in his tribute to Willie Nelson last year has seen Houck add a new vitality to his music and leaves us waiting rather impatiently for where he'll head next. Wherever that is, you can be sure that he'll get there under his own steam.
James Stocker - June 24, 2010.
FOOTNOTE: You might have heard that Matthew Houck's tour van was stolen complete with instruments from New York a couple of weeks back. Well, there's very good news on that front as miraculously, four days later, the van was found with its contents intact. Happy ending indeed.
Friday, July 23, 2010
News
BLONDE REDHEAD ANNOUNCE RELEASE DATE FOR ALBUM
Veteran New York based outfit Blonde Redhead released the track 'Here, Sometimes' as a free mp3 a few weeks back and at the time there was no information about where it came from or where it would end up. Assumptions were that it would appear on a much anticipated new album later this year. That speculation is now over as the band announced on their website that the follow up to the excellent 23, their last album released three years ago, will be called Penny Sparkle and see the light of day in the second week of September. Recorded in Stockholm with Van Rivers and The Subliminal Kid (Fever Ray, Glasser), the album was mixed by Alan Moulder who was also responsible for 23. 'Here, Sometimes' broke into this websites Top 5 songs last Sunday and if the quality of that is any indication of what the album will bring we are in for another treat from this forward looking trio. Blonde Redhead begin a tour of Europe in Milan on September 11 and will swing through Western Europe and Scandanavia before crossing the Atlantic to play an extensive tour of Canada and the US. The exhaustive jaunt end on December 1 in Austin. Check out the full tour dates here.
Here, Sometimes
Blonde Redhead (USA)
From the forthcoming album, 'Penny Sparkle', 4AD. Out in Europe/Australia Sept. 13, North America Sept 14.
Andy Hummel, one of the founding members of the legendary and majorly influential indie music pioneers, Big Star, has died in Texas after a two year battle with cancer. Only four months ago Hummel was on stage at SXSW playing tribute to his former bandmate Alex Chilton who suffered a fatal heart attack also at 59. Jody Stephens is the only surviving original member of Big Star, he has said of Hummel "He was an inspiration. I'd known Andy since the 7th grade. What an impact he had on my life. He will be sorely missed."
Hummel played on Big Star's debut album,#1 Record (1972) and on the follow-up Radio City (1974), both of which have gone down as a part of American rock history. Rolling Stone included both albums in their '500 Greatest Albums of All Time' list. It is well documented that Big Star have been a big influence on many bands, from REM to The Replacements, with them embracing the unique mix that made up the Big Star sound, a darker, nihilistic take on the power-pop qualities of the Byrds, Beatles and Kinks. Hummel contributed more than just bass, having written 'The India Song' from #1 Record, 'Way Out West' from Radio City as well having co-writing credits on 'Life Is White', 'Back of a Car' and 'Daisy Glaze' also from the second album.
Having faced problems with their first label Stax Records, whose ineffective marketing and limited distribution put a halt to any real chance of commercial success, Big Star were met with more complications with the release of Radio City. Columbia had taken control of Stax Records and essentially vetoed its distribution. The idea of a third album was shelved, deemed too uncommercial and the group disbanded in 1974, seeing Hummel never to return officially. The rest of the band did produce the third album a few years later, it went on to become enormously successful in Indie circles on both sides of the Atlantic.
Hummel went on to work at Lockheed Martin, a longtime career he was proud of, playing music on the side occassionally but deciding not to return to the group upon reformation in the mid 90s. He no doubt was also proud of his place in the history and roots of indie music, and although Big Star's existence was brief, they burned extremely brightly and have earned recognition decades later, having an army of fans who will keep the flame burning well into the future. RIP.
It's as you were at number one this week as Active Child's incredibly strong track, 'When Your Love Is Safe' maintains top position. There are big moves into the Top Ten by LA duo Best Coast with 'Boyfriend', up 10 spots to 5, and Japan's Kafuka, 'Tracer', up 4 to 8. The mysterious Greek based Keep Shelly In Athens project races up 12 places to 18 with 'Fokionos Negri Street' while the sweet sounds of Canada's Kathryn Calder are elevated 13 spots to 15. Six artists make their debuts this week. LA Shoegaze pop outfit Film School enter at 30 with 'Heart Full Of Pentagons', Swedish four piece Liechtenstein are in at 29 with 'Passion For Water while from the same country Baron Bane make an appearance with their new single, 'Sordid Eyes' (28). New Orleans indie pop/rock outfit Youth Sounds impress with a track of their EP, The Bit Parts, with the track 'As Strangers Would' (25). Finnish pop/rockers Delay Trees give us a taste of what's to come later this year from their debut album with 'Cassette 2012' while the ultra impressive Women from Canada round out the new entries with 'Eyesore' from their forthcoming album, Public Strain. This week's chart is extremely strong with something for everyone. Do yourself a favour and spend some time discovering some gems by accessing it right here.
Friday, July 16, 2010
News
DELAY TREES DEBUT JUST AROUND THE CORNER
After releasing their ultra-impressive debut EP, Soft Construction last year, introspective Finnish indie pop/rock four piece Delay Trees are set to release their debut album later this year. No word yet on when that will be but according to their blog site, the recording sessions are completed and the album is now in post production. Meanwhile, they've posted their brand new single, 'Cassette 2012' to tide us over until the release date.
Swedish retro pop four piece Liechtenstein have released a new three track single to follow up last years debut album, Survival Strategies In A Modern World. They have made the title track 'Passion For Water' available as a free download while you can purchase the total package by going to Fraction Discs records at the link below.
There seems to be some confusion as to when the new album from LA metronomic shoegazers Film School will be released. Initially the word was back in early May that it would see the light of day next week through FFO Records and insound.com still has that date and label. However, their myspace site is stating that August 31st is the release date and Hi-Speed Soul Records will be the label. To further confirm the latter theory, t was recently announced on the Hi-Speed Soul Records website that the band have signed with the label and that the change of date has now been confirmed. Check out the excellent first single 'Heart Full Of Pentagons' below.
Stockholm pysch rock veterans, Dungen, now into their second decade are set to release their seventh album, Skit I Allt (Fuck All in English) in September through Subliminal Sounds globally and Mexican Summer in North America. The band are currently offering a free download of the album's closing track, 'MarkenLågStilla' (The Land Lay Still) which you can access below. To coincide with the upcoming release they embark on a tour of North America which includes an appearance at the Monticello edition of All Tomorrow's Parties. The full tour dates can be found at their website here.
Album Tracklist
1 VaraSnabb 2 Min EndaVän 3 Brallor 4 Soda 5 Högdalstoppen 6 Skit I Allt 7 BarnenUndrar 8 Blandband 9 NästaSommar 10 MarkenLågStilla
MarkenLågStilla
Dungen (SWE)
From the forthcoming album, 'Skit I Allt', Subliminal Sounds/Mexican Summer
Indie30 is pleased to report it's back to business as usual with a new Top 30 after a week's hiatus. You might of noticed some changes going on with the site at the moment. The aim is to enhance your online experience by making some improvements while keeping the essence of the site the same as always. This week sees the debut of six new entries, three of which, Keep Shelly In Athens, 'Fokionos Negri Street' (30), Hard Mix, 'Memories' (29) and the brilliant new track from Polish electro-pop trio, Kamp!, 'Heats' (18) are unsigned at this stage. We hope that changes soon and we think it will. They are joined by the exquisite guitar and vocals of Canadian songstress, Kathryn Calder, 'Slip Away' (28) and the US West Coast neo-punkists, Abe Vigoda, 'Throwing Shade' (25). Meanwhile Kacey Johansing moves into the Top 10 with the gorgeous 'Angel Island' (7) and Christopher Willits continues his rise with 'Sun Body' (4). The top 3 remain the same this week with Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, 'Beverly Kills' (3), Tame Impala, 'Alter Ego' (2) and the epic 'When Your Love Is Safe' from Active Child at Number 1.
There has been a recent move in the genre of electronic music to embrace a more DIY and experimental guise while using traditional structures, stretching and reshaping them into the unconventional. Los Angeles artist Will Weisenfield's foray into the field under the moniker of Baths is no exception. If you're looking for a blissful, relaxing, chilled out adventure to use for your next come down, you'll get it in parts with Cerulean, Baths debut album, but at the same time, if your not embracing its full form it's likely to drive you to distraction with its catatonic spliced up beats and syncopated rhythms. That is, if it doesn't have your full focus.
Weisenfeld's original take on the genre, like Dan Snaith (Caribou), Steven Ellison (Flying Lotus), Kieren Hebden (Four Tet), Chazwick Bundick (Toro Y Moi) and Ernest Greene (Washed Out) among others, renders the current period a high watermark in electronic music. Cerulean plays like a collection of organic adventures full of dramatic verve, a physical and cerebral experience that takes you to places that render a cinematic feel. It is music that transports and transcends. It doesn't merely put you in a mood, its transforms that mood time and time again from relaxation to expectation, comfortability to restlessness. The other lasting thing about this record is its proponents rare ability to fit so much in yet leave that essential ingredient, space. Weisenhall could have fallen into the trap of overdoing things with the amount of talent he obviously possesses but he doesn't and because of that displays a musical intelligence way beyond his 21 years.
Cerulean begins with the curiously named 'Apologetic Shoulder Blades' with its haunting vocals, slow broken hip hop style beat and emotive underbelly while 'Lovely Bloodflow' contains an urgency in its understated keyboard melody and myriad of clicks. 'Maximalist' first found its way to listeners through the doyen of music websites, Pitchfork and immediately struck a chord with its video game loops, Avalanches type voice samples and unstinting yet patchy rhythm. The immediacy returns with the Muse like beginning to (Heart-symbol) that develops into a pitch heavy loop that circles endlessly as Weisenfeld laments his inability to love within safe boundaries.
The child samples on 'Aminals' combines with a galaxy of trippy beats and magical electro-guitar play while the title of 'Rafting Starlit Everglades' matched with its organic and natural sound gives the feeling of doing just that. The outstanding 'Hall', sure to feature highly in the Indie30 best songs list at the end of the year starts with a mesmerising mashup of loops, pitch and vocal manipulation which introduces so effectively the addictive interchange of multiple melodies that follow. This tracks elements fit so well together, giving the listener a seamless journey into electronic excellence.'You're My Excuse To Travel' is another highlight where Weisenfeld uses his somewhat tortured and manipulated high vocal register across a consistently catchy melody that sits atop that once again familiar hip hop timing signature.
The final four tracks further demonstrate Cerulean's complexity and contemplative character. 'Rain Smell' uses background silence to great effect over a combination of simple piano and a descending keyboard melody. 'Indoorsy' is more upbeat but no less wistful while 'Plea' flirts with the eastern and aquatic as Weisenfeld implores somebody to need him. The album ends with the warm and smooth 'Departure', although you get the distinct feeling that there's more to this than meets the ear.
This review might have name dropped some aforementioned contemporary artists of similar ilk but that in no way should mean anything in judging this album other than they are all playing to their own original and innovative tune in a, for want of a better term, definable genre. The orginality and almost fearless nature of the Baths sound hangs out on its own, with a autonomous trajectory that will intrigue further as Weisenfeld matures. After all, and I have to keep reminding myself of the fact, he's only 21.
If you are an independent artist or record label or a promotional or management company that represents an artist please feel free to send us updates about forthcoming news, releases, events. Digital audio samples of single tracks or albums are welcome and there is no need to fear any negative press about what you send. Quite simply, if we like what we hear we will feature it, if we don't we won't.
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