Delorean - Apar (****)
For a band named after a time machine, Delorean could do
with working on their timing. Apar arrives
at the tail end of a summer it could, in another universe, have sound-tracked
from the start, with its dazzling production and dreamy demeanour tailor-made
for dawn after parties.
With fewer vocal samples and a greater emphasis on lyric-led
songwriting than on last album Subiza,
Apar moves the Basque-born,
Barcelona-based quartet incrementally away from the dancefloor whilst retaining
that intangible ‘eyes close/arms in the air’ hedonistic feel.
It takes their style to a stable already occupied by Passion
Pit, recent M83 and Chairlift, so it’s fitting to hear the latter’s Caroline
Polachek on highlight Unhold – a glittery whirligig that pivots around her
warped vocal. Elsewhere, the closing Still You is their most overt cap-doff in
New Order’s direction, and with a beating heart beneath the flash and flair, Delorean’s
future looks bright indeed.
Out now
The Proper Ornaments - The Proper Ornaments (***)
Out 16th September
The Proper Ornaments - The Proper Ornaments (***)
As Waiting for the
Summer reaches its understated conclusion, London duo The Proper Ornaments
offer lyrical sentiments that could double as a serving suggestion. Over 80-seconds
of mellow acoustic guitar, sighs implore “there’s no point in being sad/ why don’t
you take a break?” – a placid plea that nicely pinpoints the effect of time in
the record’s balmy company.
James Hoare and Max Claps have an expert grasp of mood and
melody and – like Hoare’s other band Veronica Falls – they aim their talents towards
simple but effective guitar pop, with the likes of Love, Velvet Underground
and, from further along the timeline, The Go-Betweens and Yo La Tengo all recalled
at various points. But while its delicacy is a big part of its halcyon charm, Waiting for the Summer’s slightness also
has its downsides; with its ten tracks disappearing in just 23 breezy minutes,
the buzz fades all too fast.
Out now
Cloud Control - Dream Cave (***)
Cloud Control evidently have an eccentric streak. In terms
of production, Dream Cave is notable
for being part-recorded in an actual cave, while all across their second
full-length lie traces of a desire to offer something unusual and exciting: the
twisted repetitions of testy opener Scream Rave, for example, or the oddball
chorus of Moonrabbit ( “I’m not crazy/ Moonrabbit/ You’re the one that’s crazy”).
Yet brush off its psychedelic dusting and Dream Cave’s conventionality becomes
clear (a not unpleasant trait, it should be added). Plenty here works very
nicely indeed: The Smoke, The Feeling spins gold from influence-du-jour
Fleetwood Mac; lead single Dojo Rising possesses a demure pop appeal; while the
title track’s doo-wop sway is easy to fall for. But sullying matters are tracks
that outstay their welcome or that seem to lack purpose altogether (in
particular the dirge-like Tombstone), holding Dream Cave back from inspiring true reverie.
Out 16th September
No comments:
Post a Comment