The Dodos – Visiter
If there’s anything this album reminds me of it’s probably Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s moment of genius: Howl. Whilst there are forays into The Magnetic Fields and even Sufjan Stevens territory – both, oddly enough, on Winter – the bulk of this album is gripped by the kind of furious acoustic blues that made Howl so brilliant.
As a record it is definitely more varied, however, more in emotional trajectory than anything else. The clatter and rage are still present and intact, and the sound of a slide guitar being tortured to within an inch of its existence rides this album like a veteran horseman.
Whenever I read about the Dodos I hear about the virtuoso musicianship of main man Meric Long, but this duo are an equal split. Logan Kroeber’s relentless assault on his poor drum kit is as crucial as the finger-punishing work of Meric. The rhythm is fearsome and feral – not just a rock rhythm, more a demonic possession. In fact, more than melody, it is really rhythm that this music is most about. Even the slower, lovelier songs have a non-stop, clackety-clack beat to ride along with.
Ultimately it may not all be successful, but this album contains some of the most remarkable moments I’ve heard in quite a while. It’s almost a physical experience listening to it, it’s got such momentum. You may not love every last second, but you should well love most of it and Visiter is very, very much recommended.
The Dodos – Jody
The Dodos – Fools
OK. So. Apart from spending a good couple of days warming the porcelain courtesy of some manic stomach virus Las vegas saw fit to plant in me (weight loss has never been so, um, fluid) I decided I would give The Dodos another listening. An intense listening, actually.
All weekend I’ve had their drum rim epileptic tip tap & furious acoustic strumming bouncing about the sound system &, I have to say, after repeated listening I am a convert.
I also have to embarrassingly admit that back on the 30th Jan TWR I actually played one of their tunes under the misconception it was another band (Dodo Bird) &, have to say, rather liked that track (Trades & Tariffs) a lot.
So, you win. You bastard.
Mwah hah haaa!
&, to compound said embarrassment, but, unfortunately, not the anal sluice, The Dodos were originally called Dodobird when the Meric Long trod the gig circuit solo back in ’04/’05 (& he released a s/t EP called Dodo Bird back in ’05 or ’06, too, I think). He teamed up with Logan & they retained the name until it changed to The Dodos sometime in ’06.
All very fucking confusing.
p.s. Mwah hah haaa!? You’ll be doing X-Box + PSII Game reviews next.
X-Box? No I don’t think so. The last games console I owned was a Sega Megadrive.