| CD REVIEW I Got You On Tape |
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Band : I Got You On Tape There’s definitely something weirly attractive about the eerieness of the music of this Kobnhavn based Danish band. Formed in 2004, the band (currently a 4-piece consisting of singer/ keyboardist Jacob Bellens, guitarist Jacob Funch, bassist Jeppe Skovbakke and drummer Rune Lielsgaard, following the departure of second guitarist Jakob Bro in October 2009, just after the Scandinavian release of the album) took its members from the town’s Indie, Jazz and Underground scene and forging all of their musical influences together started to make a masterful combination of Alternative Rock and Art Pop. And the best way to describe the music is to use their own words, really: ”…The songs are slow, brooding, and mezmerizing, yet superbly catchy, ranging from raw, gritty and explosive, to the somber, hymn-like and celestial. The intricate, imaginative arrangements are centered around the trademark deep, hynotic voive of charismatic lead singer Jakob Bellens, who delivers the complex, yet superbly catchy melodies and dark, thoughtful lyrics with intensity and sincerity, as well as a dead-pan sense of dry humour, lingering just below the surface…” Anyway…this is already the band’s 3rd full-length studio album of new material (see further for details), following the self-titled 2006 debut and 2007 sophomore album, simply titled 2. Both albums were released through the Auditorium label (ran by Danish singer/ songwriter Nikolai Nörlund), and immediately made ‘em favourites of both press and the music fans they came in contact with (they not only toured Denmark, but also Canada, France, and Spain). In 2008 the band switched to up and coming Indie label Tigerspring, and that same year saw the release of the 2 – Remixes album (not really new studio material, right?…even if I always find remixes intriguingly interesting to analyze and compare to the originals). Apparently guitarist Bro still collaborated to the recordings of the new album (as he only left after its Danish release in October 2009). The album already garnered rave reviews, and for good cause. With the above description already given, I urge you to go check the album out right now, it currently being posted in its entirety at myspace.com/igotyouontape. The stand-put songs are definitely the ultra-eerie album opener “Cabaret”, and closing song “Wedding Song”, which is an anthem to be added to your favourite Shoegazer songs, for sure! But what comes in between is equally as mesmerizing. Although there’s an instant attraction, it takes a few listening sessions before you get all the underlying structuress, and that’s always a good sing in my personal book, as it makes one return to the album time and time again in order to further analyze the contents. Darn, pity I don’t have more free time on my hands right now, so as I could give the 10 tracks (total length just under 40 minutes) yet another spin in the cd-player. You know, there’s simply too much music coming out these days, and it’s not surprizing there’s a “crisis” in the music business…but góód (as is définitely the case here) bands will always attract the necessary attraction from the kind of music fans who don’t just (illegally) download their music onto their mp3-players, but also want to buy the actual albums! Wish this one came out on vinyl! (PS: Notice how I gave the album a rating of “only” 97? It simply means I’m still considering adding it to my year-lists anyway…and given half a chance to listen to the album again, I very much might do that, you know!) 97/100 Tony. |