| · What they were doing when no one else was looking.
Given their predilection for droning hum, Movietone are aptly named because their music would effortlessly accent almost any film. With The Sand and the Stars, Movietone’s core duo of Rachel and Chris Coe flesh out their lineup and their sound with a previously unheard focus on melody. Offering a ramshackle sea-shanty, wheezing klezmer-style accordion and a skronky woodwind-samba, Movietone explores the intricacies of mid-tone recording and pushes the boundaries of cohesion.
Two-part vocals nearly converge, soft percussion emerges from the background and plinking guitar meets plunking banjo in a post-folk showdown. The fact that this album barely holds itself together is a performance miracle. The fact that it actually works is sublime. The mildly amplified "Ocean Song" builds to muted monochord pop reminiscent of early Stereolab with Rachel’s thin voice barely floating above the music. The result is nothing shy of haunting, heartbreaking beauty.
Although Devics bear only a slight musical resemblance to Movietone, the overall result is similar. While Movietone have released four records under the radar, Devics managed to squeeze out five. The fact that this L.A. quartet can release so much music in relative obscurity proves that the music industry spends way too much time and money dusting off their old catalogue and financing the next big thing.
The slo-core meets trip-hop delivery of The Stars at Saint Andrea is wonderfully subdued and Sara Lov’s vocals offer a sad and soothing lullaby. From the epic reverbed dirge of "My True Love" to the Edith Piaf-tinted weeper "Connected by a String," Devics deliver a consistent downbeat charmer of a record. The simple formula of rich lyrical aerobatics backed by guitar, processed percussion and muted bleeps is hypnotic and beautiful, with untold layers waiting to be discovered upon repeat spins.
Both bands are sad, quiet, brooding and evocative, but more importantly they prove that even though it’s hard to find something new to listen to, there are still surprises to be discovered.
DEVICS
4/5
MOVIETONE
4/5
JASON LEWIS
|
Copyright ©2003 FFWD. All rights reserved.