| ||
|
Whoever came up with the theory that the best bands come from Brooklyn certainly has their points. There are multiple varieties of genres re-interpreted in an engaging manner, from the vintage roots and field music of The Boggs to the neo-new wave dream-pop stylings of So L'il. Vocalist Ben Malkin is somewhat reminiscent of the more soft spoken Lou Reed of "Lisa Says" and "Pale Blue Eyes". Whereas Robin Mapes' vocals are both soaring and completely in control of the melody and composition. They go far beyond the typical 'post-new wave' synthesizers, interspersing rhythms of reggae and calypso with thick angular dissonance that is almost like Sonic Youth. It is not 'noisy', though, yet it experiments with unusual chromatic patterns; “The Outwardly Ugly, Secretly Beautiful” is nearly an Indian dirge, employing cyclical harmonies and overlapping musical patterns that seduce and challenge the listener. Dear Kathy is an impressive debut, and it will be curious to see where they go next. Reviewed by: Chris Bock |
