Published by Scott September 11th, 2006
in Album, Review and 2006.
With a junk drawer’s worth of synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and turntables balancing melodic acoustic guitar and drawling vocals, Geoff Reacher’s Avec Reacher C’est Plus Sur makes for a novel listen. At first the contrast of electro instrumental clutter with the traditional organic tools of a singer-songwriter can be disconcerting. It seems to waver between unique artistic expression and a horrible mess. Repeated listens tip things in Reacher’s favor as his inventive, often playful sound ultimately inspires appreciation if not enjoyment. Highlights include the hip-hop tinged, Beck-ish “Snarling Wheels of Sin” and the desolate melancholy of “Ride to the Grave.” But my favorite is the loose and funny twang pop of “Look Me in the Eye,” with its nod to The Kinks in the lines, “Well I’m not the world’s most passionate guy / But if that asshole can dance / Well then fuck it so can I.” Geoff Reacher’s intruiging electro country hybrid is definitely worth checking out.
Mixtape tracks- Look Me in the Eye, Snarling Wheels of Sin, My Heart’s a Rocket
Freebies- You Like My Song, Snarling Wheels of Sin
(And I love the comment on Reacher’s site referring to his MySpace page, “if you want em to sound crappier.”)
Published by Scott August 1st, 2006
in Album, Review and 2006.
About the only all-encompossing genre label that might stick to Oneida is experimental. From album to album, you just never know what to expect from this compelling Brooklyn band. On their eighth long player, Happy New Year, they mix up a batch of some wicked krautrockin’ psych folk concoctions.
There are some extreme contrasts over the course of the album. “Distress,” for example, sounds either like a trippy version of Simon and Garfunkle’s “Sounds of Silence” or chanting monks from the Temple of Psilocybin. I can’t decide which. Compare that with the jaw dropping seven-plus minute epic, “Up With People,” which is crammed full of hyper skittery rhythms, minimalist guitar and sax(?) leads, and a chorus that sounds like Love and Rocket’s cover of “Ball of Confusion.” Such disparate songs don’t seem like they’d cohere. The prevailing psych vibe, especially in the detached vocals, holds it all together pretty well.
Oneida are restless, adventurous, and always interesting in their approach to rock music. I’ve gone from wishing more of their stuff sounded like the garage-psych of songs like “All Arounder” on their ‘01 release Anthem on the Moon, to really appreciating the diversity of their sonic journeys. Happy New Year is another challenging but satisfying trip through their strange musical land.
Mixtape track- “Up With People” is truly a stunner.
Freebies- Woo-hoo! Grab yourself a copy of “Up With People” from the band’s site.
Published by James April 24th, 2006
in Free Tracks, Album, Review and 2005.
Children of the CPU are definitely hardcore DIY what with sole responsibility for the recording, producing, and distribution of Back To BASIC. They have made the album freely available on their website with the hope that you’ll like it enough to place an order for a physical copy at the low-low price of $12 CDN. Economic ethos aside, it is a refreshingly light electro-pop album where Veronica Rossos’ breathy vocals float over the decidedly retro and chip inspired beats of Cameron Shay, who also contributes some vocals himself. It is a warm analog sounding album, one where the album cover actually captures the spirit of the music from the Cocoa Krispies shag carpet, wood grained TV with actual dials dials and knobs, and Q*Bert on the Atari 2600. I feel a longing for my idealized childhood just looking at it.
“Closer Than You Think” is a poppy number with that bounces along on a decidedly New Wave bass line rounded off by swirling loops of synth arpeggios. It is track that is at home being played over headphones late at night while you lay on your bed staring up at shadows from the street lights flitting about on the ceiling. “Weeping Willow” follows the same trend except that it is built on beats that are more an IDM interpretation of Drum and Bass rhythms where they skitter about but are warm and fat. It also features a hushed duet that slowly works it way around the urgency of the guitar and synth arrangements.
If you like warm beats and dreamy melodies or are a fan of Ladytron, Husky Rescue, or Boards of Canada it is very likely you’ll enjoy Children of the CPU. Back To BASIC is a fun listen that is infused with a spirit of retro-futurism that imparts such a sweet flavor. Go grab it today.
Oh, and big ups to 3hive for finding and posting some tracks from this album. Without their Bloodhound Gang skills Back To BASIC would have flown way under my radar.
