Labels: Tiny Engines
Review by: MH
This is an easy one to write about purely for how good it is. Cayetana showed considerable promise on their demo and a recent 7inch which featured a particularly good song called “Hot Dad Calendar”. They fulfil that promise and then some here with 11 fine songs. The opener sets the bar high with its fuzzy and melancholy punk rock and opening line of “I came here alone and I plan to leave that way” and it doesn’t falter from thereon in. By the time “Dirty Laundry” appears at track 3, I am completely hooked. It’s one of the best songs I’ve heard in ages – just a fantastic pop song with wistful lyrics about launderettes and disappointment. I must have listened to that song about eleven times on the day I got this from the review list. “Mountain Kids” has had a going over since it first appeared on their demo and sounds even better for the bigger production here. “Madame B” and “Scott Get The Van, I’m Moving” are both excellent songs but I could pretty much say that for all eleven tracks. I had previously found the Waxahatchee comparisons a bit of a stretch but I do see that more now with some of the lyrics and the indie rock tracks on here although Cayetana are slightly punkier in the main. The other band they get likened to is Lemuria although Cayetana are less poppy and rougher around the edges so there are similarities but Cayetana definitely have their own sound and it’s one that is right up my street. Augusta Koch’s vocals are so great too – it’s like there’s a slight crack which adds a layer of vulnerability to the record. I like the way that despite the energy on show, pretty much every song is laced with sadness. Easily one of my favourite records of 2014.