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Day: 22 February 2011

Album: Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean

Written by music on . Posted in Music.

Iron & Wine
Kiss Each Other Clean
4AD
3 stars

Before listening to this album, my only previous encounter with Iron & Wine was via the overly twee ballad ‘Such Great Heights’, courtesy of the Garden State soundtrack. Thus, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall content of Kiss Each Other Clean. 

What is initially good about it, is that every song sounds a little bit different from the last.  Opener, ‘Walking Far From Home’, has a simple beauty about it, mostly down to Sam Beam’s angelic vocals and the cooing background harmonies. Compare this to ‘Big Burned Hand’ and the album starts to tell another story – one of jazz funk basslines, synths, an electric organ and a saxophone, all melding into a sound that could be described as avant-guard. The wide range of sounds Beam explores is what gives this album its charm.

Kiss Each Other Clean is not, however, without its flaws. For a start, some of it is boring. ‘Tree By The River’, for example, is middle of the road in every respect, as is ‘Glad Man Singing’, and even after several plays, it becomes a struggle to remember what the less stand out tracks actually sounded like. Having said this, it is the pious lyrics that I really take issue with. ‘Tree By The River’ formulaically drones on about lost innocence when we had the “sun on our faces”. As Beam himself says in the lyrics, he was ‘coy’, and this song is certainly that. It’s also rather dull while ‘Godless Brother In Love’ comes across as self-riotous. Consequently, I get nothing of the apparent loss and pain we are supposed to be hearing in Beam’s words.
Musically then, the album is good. I just don’t care much for its lyrics.

Emily Talbot

Album: Deerhoof – Deerhoof vs. Evil

Written by music on . Posted in Music.


Deerhoof
Deerhoof vs Evil,
ATP Recordings
4 Stars

Deerhoof have lingered in the left field of pop idiosyncrasy for more than a decade, loved by critics and existing as a name that is ever-present in the music blogosphere. While their influence is cited by many of the most innovative artists in the alternative world, they have yet to pierce the skin of the mainstream in the way bands such as Grizzly Bear have in the past couple of years. With Deerhoof vs. Evil, their critical adoration will continue, although whether they can gain the level of visibility that has so far eluded them remains to be seen.

It certainly would be a shame if it did, as this is an album that is not only original and full of crazed invention, but is also catchy as hell and seriously fun. The spontaneity that characterises Deerhoof is as clear as ever on the album, yet there is nevertheless a pop sensibility to be savoured if you just embrace the madness.

And it isn’t hard to embrace. As impressive and energetic as Deerhoof are, they’re not desperate for your attention. This is a record that is as warm and as comfortable as it is perplexing and dazzling. The soft tones of vocalist Sitomi Matsuzaki are charming, innocent without being twee and gentle without being fey. Her voice is the logic that runs throughout the album, particularly effective on the gorgeous ‘No One Asked To Dance’ (complete with delicate guitar picking and synth drone loveliness), and the beguiling and seductive ‘Must Fight Current’.

Deerhoof vs. Evil is an album that manages to combine invention and entertainment. It is an album that will no doubt keep the critics happy and yet it may still be an album that will be heard by fewer people than it has the potential to delight.

Rich Gall