Labels: Keep Secret Records
Review by: Kjetil Holstad
First of all, the press kit that followed this tape has a quote from a blog I have severe issues with taking seriously, but I’ll try not to hold that against this Oslo trio.
Despite the fact that these fellows lives in the same town as me and that I’ve seen the band name from time to time on peoples top “whatever” lists, I never really checked them out for some reason. When I saw the tape was up for review here at Collective I thought it was a perfect occasion to do finally do so. Low and behold, this is much better than I would have thought. Extremely lo-fi recorded songs that touch on folk (think early Woods recordings), laid-back indie (think Le Corbeau), jangly noise pop, all tied together with a couple short drone/noise pieces.
They have nailed the 4 track sound (although a 8 track has been used) pretty darn good as well which fits the music perfectly. I’m pretty certain that a “good” recording would have revealed the obvious weaknesses to some of these songs, but then again..these songs where (hopefully) meant to be packaged in this sound and not something more glossy and produced. The tape flows well with no real standout tracks but if I had to pick on it would be “Geraldine”. All in all, at the Wörthersee Hotel is a nice effort and if this indeed is the debut, I would love to check them out again when they have refined their sound just a tad.