LOWLAKES - Iceberg Nerves

Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Artpop/Pop | Heft: Jahrgang 2014, eclipsed Nr. 159 / 4-2014 | VÖ-Jahr: 2014 | Wertung: 7/10 | Label: Kunsthaus | Autor: BSV


Cool, as the title "Iceberg Nerves" suggests, is not what Lowlakes' debut exudes. On the contrary, the dreamy pop that the Australian quartet presents with its twelve songs is the best material for warming the heart. Not that there's any licorice rasping around here. Rather, the omnipresent keyboard carpets and the piano exude a cosy atmosphere without drifting into too shallow realms. The synths achieve this through spherical slowness, the piano through pure elegance. In addition, sequencers and drum loops create subliminal grooves. For very few moments a didgeridoo sounds. There must be so much local color. So much for the strengths. It takes some getting used to the badly narrow character of the vocals, but it's kept in check by reverberation and alienation. Just calm, floating passages convince. The lack of really good melodies and gripping rhythms, however, turns out to be a weak point during the more than 50-minute playing time. The one or other escape from the euphony would have done the record good.

Top track: Belle

Back to overview