Nathan Oliver “Cloud Animals” (Pox World Empire, 2009)

Clouds coalesce into interesting shapes

When a band sets out a clear agenda then it makes assessment so much easier, the avowed intent of this band is to match the dynamics of the Pixies with the melodicism of Elliot Smith; that is to create something that doesn’t particularly sound like either but that is dynamic and melodic. They’re surprisingly successful in their ambition, ‘Playground Lies’ is immediately engaging moving from chugalong rock to blasts of atonal guitar softened with glistens of glockenspiel: brushes of viola and arpeggio guitar are added to the mix which proves to be both dynamic and melodic, success. ‘A Dark History’ shares the same DNA only here a tortured guitar plays against dark resonant drops of piano that fall and never hit bottom.

‘How Small We Have Become’ takes another route, it starts with building a wall of finger picked guitar and rudimentary percussion, after ninety seconds of this and a brief pause, an acoustic guitar enters and makes way for a gently insistent voice, colour is given with piano, it’s rather like Bright Eyes without the quivering indignation. ‘Leaf Spine’ is a pastoral instrumental full of rippling layers of vocals, guitars and keyboards, it moves from the prosaic to the harsher industrial sounds of distorted guitar chords and sounds like MBV might if they were playing at a séance.

The closing title track employs a ukulele as the centre point, the dynamics come from small fusillades of drums, sea monster like electronic noises and the melting icicle sound of the glockenspiel, it provides a lighter, simpler sound than the preceding ten tracks. They succeed in their stated aim, they’ve produced a collection of songs that are both dynamic and melodic (often at the same time), it’s the kind of thing that gives indie rock a good name.

Date review added:  Monday, July 20, 2009
Reviewer:  David Cowling
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Cloud computing