|
I'll never
get rich by selling Crunchy Frog promo-cd's to my local 2nd hand
record-shop. The reason for this is quite simple: I keep them
all ! Ten years after having being founded by Danish indie-rockers
Thau in order to release their first album, this DIY micro-company
has grown into one of Denmark's best and most influent labels,
boasting a discography that now includes artists of international
calibre like The Raveonettes and Junior Senior as well as lesser
known yet nonetheless interesting acts like The Mopeds, Superheroes
or Learning From Las Vegas. The good news after all these years
is that these avid music fans still have great fun doing their
job and a real flair for finding exciting new bands. This debut
CD by Copenhagen-based quartet EPO-555 gives further proof of
it.
|
|
|
Although their
occasional mangled guitar whirls will draw inevitable comparisons
with My Bloody Valentine, it would be unfair to confine EPO-555
to the current Shoegazer-revival trend. Their music is far too
rich, varied and personal for that, mixing noisy-pop, twanging
guitars, old-school electronics and the mellow voices of Camilla
Florentz and Mikkel Max Hansen to an arresting effect. All through
these plenty 55 minutes, the Copenhagen four demonstrate their
stunning ability to deliver compelling tunes and dress them in
an alluring and inventive soundscape. More than often, this pure
melodic appeal and original song constructions bring to mind their
fellow citizens Mew, of whom EPO-555 are in many ways - and with
a sound of their own - the gifted heirs. Many bands would kill
to grace their albums with songs as good as the ultra-catchy Pre-Emptive
Stroke ( the first single), Le Beat's On Fire ( great
mesmerizing synthesizer theme, controversial lyrics) or Dakota
( a perfect 3-minute pop summary). These shiny jewels are
only the conspicuous side of a collection that also gives space
to quieter, more intimate pieces. Angelina Ballerina, for
instance, is just as gracious and ethereal as its title suggests,
going at slow pace on an elastic guitar line and accordion-like
organ. Pioneer mixes a seductive synthetic whistling with
Mikkel's whispering vocals and Notwist-style electro rhythms.
The closing track So Long Cowboy also distills a similar
subdued appeal, gently fading in the twilight on a cool melodica
tune. But it's on lengthier and more complex tracks that EPO-555
give the full measure of their talent. Sugar For The War Machine
is a stunning crescendo affair that starts very quietly, then
gets fueled with successive layers of sound until everything goes
out of control. Il Presidente offers three different songs
in one, alternating sudden bursts of noise with a delicate ballad
sung mezzo-voce by Camilla, all ending in an unexpected coda.
Even better, Sophia combines the great melodic hook of
the singles with the ambitious development of the lengthy tracks.
Everything here is close to perfection: the propulsive melody,
the gorgeous chorus where Camilla and Mikkel's voices blend together
perfectly, the charming early-Cure guitar segue that astutely
separates the verse from the chorus, not to forget the glorious
A Day In The Life racket that closes the song.
|
|