Dutch Husband - Fantasy Blanket & the Fall Chorus - CD (2008)

Labels: self released
Review by: Andy Malcolm

Given the ease of judging new music these days, the first 30 seconds of this CD were putting this band on dangerous ground. Only given the chance to make it past 30 seconds it turns into the kind of thing that makes me melt. Sweet, sweet, soothing indie guitar, twinkling away effortlessly, reminding me of that great Audio Armada song that 9 people have heard, and Tristeza. And with that unexpected spot of beauty out of the way, the band lurch into an equally surprising blast of rocking indie, fuzzing it up to great effect, presumably paying off their collective student loans to Pavement, Sebadoh, Superchunk, Dinosaur Jr et al as we speak. Two songs in and I am can tell these guys know how to prime their messy melodies, and then totally ease off into the pretty twinkle with surprisingly little effort, what a great combo. The guitars then come in for “Fractures” and I am sold. It’s the kind of guitar sound that I have been addicted to for ages, I can’t really describe it as I am no musician, but if you enjoy the same kind of indie rock as I do (there’s only 1000 odd reviews for you to wade through to try and figure that one out or not) then you can be pretty certain of enjoying it to. Dutch Husband have the art of the intro nailed. Bar that first song, I am hooked from the first second of pretty much every track. Things seem to take a more downbeat turn to the latter third of the record, “Rumpsringa” in particular, which spirals off miserably to it’s finale, with sludgey guitars. That’s my kind of thang.

I am finding it hard to discover a flaw with this album. I guess the suitably slack vocals are a little off-key in places, but I tend to look past such failings, given that my own are far more serious. To be sent an album of obscure indie rock (by a British band no less) for review that is not merely good, but actually more so, is a real pleasure. This is a fine album, loaded with catchy melodies, great guitars, a healthy dose of fuzz, and a calvacade of good songs. Check this shit out, this is easily one of the best things I have heard in 2008.