Edmund II "Floating Monk"

Independent, 2012

Early eighties glimmer and sheen

• Originally from the mid west but now residing in Brooklyn, New York, Edmund II (aka Edmund Pellino) has knocking around for a while, in particular in his band Utah! Now, after three years in the making he releases his solo debut Floating Monk.

• It’s an odd mixture of airy meanderings and more full-blown sonic maelstroms. Of the two styles the more intimate is the most successful. With a sound that is heavily borrowed from early eighties post punk indie popsters (think of El Records for example) the guitars shimmer and purr. “Sabato,” an atmospheric glissando for guitars and voice is shiveringly good while the opening song “Golden Lung” has an attractive lustre.

  Best of all however is when Pellino strips away all the production layers on the relatively unadorned “High Tide & Wide Eyed" which sounds like Robyn Hitchcock circa 'Queen Elvis', a lovely little song. The closing instrumental “Avere Sonno” is a fine miniature piece with acoustic guitar picking and percussive effects that almost mimic birdsong. The title loosely translates as to be sleepy and if all the album were like this it could be a fine relaxation exercise in Mindfulness. Unfortunately this peacefulness is occasionally punctuated by the likes of “Oxitene” which comes across as a studio jam with the synth player trying out his new toy. Ultimately disposable amongst the finer sounds that surrounds it.