21 Tandem Repeats "No Junk Mail Please" (Canada Lynx Records 2008)

...and beware the dog!!

There is something very eighties about this record, the third full-length album from Vancouver folkies 21 Tandem Repeats. Not eighties in a Howard Jones way (thank the lord!) but in that fey-but-very clever jangly indie model. These are the sort of band who would be third on the bill at ULU (supporting Colenso Parade and the Red Guitars maybe), would have their pocket of ten fans down for the night from somewhere like Wolverhampton or Kirby, and would leave a slight if non-lasting impression. They would sell a couple of t-shirts, maybe an enamel badge or two, and then head of to Loughborough for the next show. Reading this back it appears that I didn’t really like this record, doesn’t it. Well that’s not really the case. “Disappear” is a cute, intelligent ditty whilst “Mr Greenie” is as groovy as, well, a groovy groove thingy. And any band that designs a sleeve that can be used as a polite way of telling the postman to shove that Iceland pamphlet and Dell offer where the sun don’t shine has to be applauded. “This music is the soundtrack of that sentiment” says frontman Super Robertson. And he’s right really. Harmless, uncomplicated, melody-rich folky guitar pop that basically uses what its needs and disregards the rest. Now where’s my cassette player?

Date review added:  Monday, December 01, 2008
Reviewer:  Del Day
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Band website