Hi and heartfelt thanks for everything (blah blah blah I’m sure it took considerable time [as it should], and the mere fact of your punctuality says a lot). I’ve listened to this tape multiple times through both headphones and car speakers in a variety of contexts and locations. So though the review is like a first impression, I promise I gave it more time than that.
Beforehand, I must reveal the pink sheep in the room, which is the fact that I received the tape through a filesharer ending in .nz, which naturally has led me to suspect a certain lanky, ginger, Kiwi. That said, I was unsure (even perplexed!) during my first listen (either because of his/her rapidly evolving music taste, or, God forbid, he/she meant to present me with something I wasn’t expecting) so I could be wrong. Note that this suspicion undergirds much of the review, so major apologies if you are neither lanky nor ginger.
Oh yeah, the album artwork throughout is a bear waving to the viewer in front of a foresty backdrop.
1. A sustained, soft synth note runs through delicately reverbed strums, a cheesy ambience that certainly wouldn’t be out of place on a panic-attack recovery playlist. A steady, equally soothing keyboard melody, bass and electronic percussion arrives. Daft punk vibe (as little as I know about them, but it would fit the aforementioned Kiwi), or modern muzak. “Little black flowers that grow in the shower…” Male voice commensurate with the vibe. Soothing but not boring, plus the lyrics are worthy of attention, always culminating in the chorus: “Black mold!” Some synthy guitars fill the interludes. Perfectly pleasant opener. Thanks.
2. Some ominous rattling and keyboard sounds lead into a similarly cleanly-produced, chill vibe. Faint acoustic picking, and another groovy bass vibe. This could very, very, very easily be the same band. Voice feels virtually the same as well. On its own it ain’t bad, but my attention fades a bit by the end.
3. Some solid, jazzy chords and a soulful R&B song with a darn good vocalist. Still very soft on the ears, (verging on boring) but a welcome, subtle change from the last song. The chorus is sharp with verses being echoed, and there’s a warm interplay between the keyboards and voice during the verse. The precedent’s been set for the tape, and I welcome it as I don’t listen to enough of this kind of music, though I haven’t yet been convinced that I ought to. I’m effectively mellowed out, let’s see where it goes from here.
4. A bit more upbeat, but not totally unlike the first two with a strolling, snappy bass line. The voice lends a more indie (young/white, if you will) vibe, for lack of imagination. Some chord arpeggios at the chorus give it a more psych vibe with a catchy enough vibe and melody. Still, almost frustratingly likeable.
5. Sound fragments of keyboards and voices reverb and splinter about, renewing my Kiwi suspicions. I find solid ground with a bassy keyboard that develops its way in, followed by a chill 4 chord rhythm. Halfway in it I realize that I’m really digging it. Another chill-DJ vibe with some really well-produced bits, samples, and textures running throughout. Getting increasingly curious about who this is.
6. Sharp intakes of breath weave through a pulsing electronic (and yes, still invitingly chill) rhythm. This could easily be the previous musician, though halfway through I’m pretty much 99% positive that this is Burial. Yeah, this must be Burial (who, by the way, is actually Four Tet in case you didn’t know). I suppose I should mention that being Burial is a very very good thing, the last two tracks are definitely my favorites thus far. Thank ya kindly.
7. Synths lead into the sound of heavy rainfall…OMG this must…yes, Baths! I’m terribly embarrassed to say I can’t name the track, I only listened to the new album a few times, though hearing this now makes me wish I had been less distracted at the time. I suppose I ought to describe it, but I’ll just stick with ‘damn sharp’. Generally speaking, the mix has made a turn for the melancholy, though that also results in a bigger emotional high when the chords zip back up to break the water’s surface. At this point, the tape structure seems to make a touch more sense.
8. More electric keyboards, is this Frank Orange? It has that vibe anyway, the chorus consists of him just naming all the things he has (which apparently includes 7 Grammy’s). Yeah, this must be Frank Orange (who I first liked, but didn’t like like, if only for genre-differences). It’s very well-produced, but halfway through it starts feeling a little too sugary for me to stay absorbed in. Solid do.
9. Surprise, more electric keyboard chords and a steady, chill rhythm. Still, its quality and keeps me intrigued as to what enters next, some jazz-toned guitar dances and pluck about, then two (one in each ear). I dig this. Chords change (a bit darker) later on, could easily be an instrumental version of some song, though I’d probably prefer it this way. It continues in the same vibe, with some subtle additions and changes that I can’t quite communicate via text. Near the end a 3rd guitar riffs about, drums muck about more freely, and atmospheric keyboards become more prominent. I REALLY want to what/who this is.
10. A single low brass instrument dances around comically, soon joined by others. Musically speaking, the chords throughout this whole mix are dense and resonate strongly. This would appear to be an orchestral, though don’t be misled, still chill, instrumental. I haven’t heard any compositon quite like this though, the instrumentals run playful over and through each other, remaining pleasant on the ears, though by no means boring.
11. Last track, an arpeggiated acoustic guitar playing a solemn progression. High male voice and harmony enter, sort of a fleet foxes vibe. Oh yeah, it’s beautiful and sad (without seeming contrived). At the bridge the backing voices (which seem to be from the same voice as the singer) swell, drift about, then take over. At some point I think a banjo enters. Only percussion is an occasional handclap until the end when a scattered rumbling enters. Keeps getting better, truly heavenly ending. I must have it for my collection!!! *evil grin*
So yeah, if this isn’t Eddie’s tape, I’m a turnip. I won’t lie, I’ve hoped for sometime to be on the receiving end of one of these luxuries, and I wasn’t disappointed. It had everything a good tape should have, and I’m dying to see the final list. My impression of all of the songs (even those that got less positive reviews) has improved with each listen, with subtle production elements popping up depending on wherever I’m listening at that given time. I suppose it’s important to say that I strongly recommend this tape to any potential downloaders. Cheers, and thanks again!