Alamo Race Track
Alamo Race Track’s new long player, Unicorn Loves Deer is the culmination of a
challenging and adventurous 2010-2011. As well as knocking out their third LP, the band
have negotiated their way through personnel changes and the considerable challenge
of writing and performing music for an avant garde theatre production; (Innenschau by
Jakob Ahlbom to be precise). Not to mention trips to Austria and Finland along the
way…
Being busy seems to suit them. The result of their labours, Unicorn Loves Deer, is a
cocksure record; enjoyably eccentric in places even, though not quite the eccentricity
that saw Syd rub Mandies in his hair. Still, it must be said, there is a fair dollop of faerie
pop that does get slightly Barrett-esque: as Unicorn Loves Deer feels very English in
places. The quirky pastoral elements in tracks like Apples recall Traffic stuck in their
cottage in Berkshire, the Small Faces messing about in their punt on the Thames, or
the Pretty Things at their most floral. The title track comes on like some psychotically
twee Morris dance with a restless fluffy beat. It’s certainly something you need a few
plays to get your head round.
ART do have their own peculiar vibe though, one that gets the thumbs up from outlets
as diverse as Le Monde (FR) and Filter magazine (USA). They are masters of
affirmative song writing and the deal on this claim is sealed, so to speak, by their
magisterial use of vocals, whether employed in ridiculously gymnastic harmonies or
counter melodic punches. Listen to the way the vocals inform the mood of a song;
comforting as on Shake Off the Leaves, or slightly daft as in Motorman and Owls.
Lindyshop has a wide-eyed lunacy that is all of its own making, all the time reined in
and yet, (somehow, quite inexplicably for this correspondent), reinforced by some
splendid harmonies. The music has a skip in its step, too: The Moon Rides High is a
classic track, utilizing that clever knack of returning triumphantly to a catchy chorus.
And I wonder what drives their lyrics?
This is a record very much of its times and of another time; but unlike lots of releases
around today, you don’t need – or feel the need – to have a degree in pop history to
appreciate it.
www.alamoracetrack.com
Voorstellingen in de maand augustus 2013
Eerder in de Kleine Komedie
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Speeldata
- september 2012
