Although this album is slightly past its release date (Jan 4 2010, Car Park Records), in terms of perfect relevance it's pretty much hitting its peak. Because you see this is a summer album, filled with the kind of tunes that take you off to hazy days and remind you what it feels like not to have sun-starved skin hidden under five layers of clothing. So as spring tears at the walls of winter, letting in light and life (finally..), it's time to put the needle to this record and remind yourself of what's in summer store.
This album is of the Washed Out school of thought, so similar in places that it could be its gorgeous cousin, although perhaps just a touch more from the hiphop side of the family, more influenced by relatives like uncle Flying Lotus and cousin J Dilla. 'Blessa' opens the show through a heat haze with its echoey vocals, simple beat, warm bass and warped strings, ending with that most comforting of sounds - a needle on a record. Swiftly following on is 'Minors,' dominated by a little descending synth sound set to a softened beat with big, uplifting synths and disorientating production encouraging you horizontal like the heat of the sun.
'Imprint After' starts out with an uplifting piano that sounds like it will break into some kind of Balearic House track with a trumpety synth giving it a truly summerful vibe. 'Lissoms' is an Eton mess of lovely uplifting pads of vocal ooos and aaaahs, slowed down with broken beats and a police siren chucked in there for good measure.
The excellently named 'Fax Shadow' is all chopped up vocal and broken sounds littered with reversed samples over a beat that sounds deliciously like the crack of a tennis ball. The track is lifted up by a little rising soft synth in the background then it fades away into a summer sunset sound. 'Thanks Vision' sees French electro synths and Ernest Greene beats, Sebastien Tellier and Washed Out's lovechild. It has a sliced off sound that makes the music move as if it has been side-chained and finishes with what is almost destruction of the track. 'Freak Love' is set to a hip hop beat and brings to mind Roots Manuva, another of my summer favourites.
'Low Shoulders' is like a Crazy P track, summertime vibes with uplifting chords, maybe vocally and lyrically a bit Frankmusik but kept from fromage by its beats. The title track 'Causes of This' reminds me of Janet Jackson, right down to the guitar sound and shakers but reproduced for 2010 by running the samples ragged and having the beat go electro.
If you haven't listened to this album recently go and play it and if you don't have it then go and buy it. If there was ever a collection of tracks most suited to getting you ready for summer 2010 this is it. Bring out the deckchairs and dust down your shorts, it's going to be another long hot, chilliwave summer.
No comments:
Post a Comment