All the light-weight electronics and smeared melody runs make me thinkof the ocean pushing up against the beach this past year. All thesounds suggest a simple tinkering, something happening just under asheet of roaring noise that somehow stops roaring and goes into acocoon to emerge as a whisper. Children are running all over the place,too, and it's not that they're making a mess, but I'll be damned ifthey don't seem way more busy than they should be capable of.Everything's a little simplified on Pinaforeand that being so, I have a difficult time feeling anything butnostalgic when this is spinning. The sounds are piled one on anotherand it's very easy to capture every little second of music in my headand let it push its full effect on me. The record, I'm afraid to say,almost made me just a little sad. I couldn't help but think of theCalifornia beach and the way the water sounds when its crashing intorocks and the way, despite that incredible wall of sound, that thebirds, the wind, and the people's voices around me were crystal clear.I make it sound as if Illoin writes noise-inspired music, buteverything is very subtle: all the drums click and clack and sort ofstutter underneath pillows while bass melodies swindle their way out ofa little kid's toys. It makes me want to dance a little bit, but thatmelancholy is a strong presence. The lonly piano of "Pinafore" and theringing and delicate raindrops on "Darkwater" drag me under and intomemory and its a strong presence to be in the company of when musicmakes it so visceral. I was watching it snow outside while I listenedto this record, too, and it was a soft snow-fall. The music almostseemed to mimic the way the snow fell and was whipped about by thewind. This is a stark and simultaneously lush collection of songs thathas stayed in my player since I received it.Read More
