ANDALUSIA: Such a Heavenly Eyesore

Andalusia

Such a Heavenly Eyesore

© 2001 Andalusia (783707379425)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

SPECIAL: 10% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Ethereal instrumental sounds and rhythms -- a three-piece crowd-pleasing "David Lynchian" sonic assault that brings a human edge to the subtle complexities of the studio recordings, stretching the dynamic of seasick until your thirst is quenched.

tracks

1 Beneath the Clover
2 Swallow
3 Drag
4 Constant
5 Such a Heavenly Eyesore
6 This Is Noplace
7 Outside of Here
8 Reflux Down
9 Icarus
10 I Write Blindly

notes

"Such a Heavenly Eyesore" is a 2001 release, the long-awaited follow-up to the 3-song instrumental EP "this is noplace." The album features the like of guest vocalists Lisa Dewey (courtesy of Kitchen Whore Records) and Steph Jorgl.

Andalusia is a stark dreamy vibe, a three-piece crowd-pleasing "David Lynchian" sonic assault. Stretching the dynamic of seasick until your thirst is quenched and your sea legs are comfortably gelatinous.

Andalusia was started by Cameron and Kirsten in 1996. Jon arrived in late '97. In a room, making sounds, shutting out the silly valley world, inviting you in. Close your eyes. The room is small, the world smaller still, and the sound escapes the confines of world and room through a small opening, a crack in your psyche and grows and swells, welling up the fluid in your ears.

Cameron's unearthly 12-string guitar sounds expand beyond aural perceptions -- he plays effects pedals like winds play sound gardens -- randomly orchestrated. Kirsten's stealthily ubiquitous vibrations massage your sternum with melodic fingernails. Propelled through time and space, sticks brush and strike skins, Jon finesses the rhythm, drops fragments, drives. Melodies for the shower, words for the silent, feeling for the jaded, cynically optimistic.

You might find the music to be reflective of a compelling mix of influences like instrumentalists Godspeed You Black Emperor, the shoegazing moods of the Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine and Radiohead of old.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • author: CD Baby

    Ethereal instrumental sounds and rhythms -- a three-piece crowd-pleasing "David Lynchian" sonic assault that brings a human edge to the subtle complexities of the studio recordings, stretching the dynamic of seasick until your thirst is quenched.

  • Some of the nicest things anyone has ever said.
    author: Andy G - "cd Services"

    Now this is genius.....no word of a lie. From one of the hottest new bands I've discovered in recent times comes their first full-length album and it is simply brilliant from start to finish. Ten tracks, nearly fifty minutes, guitars, bass and drums, three featuring vocals from female/male duet, and some of the finest tracks around. Musically we're talking big open canvases of epic proportions as the gorgeous full-sounding guitars stretch from horizon to horizon, all quite languid yet amazingly powerful at the same time, very much in the vein of classic Cocteau Twins only less edgy, more flowing, much more textural presence, deeper resonance, a superbly fluid yet tight rhythm section, almost a guitar orchestra at times and a full-to-overflowing sound that is just heavenly, exactly as it says on the packet, but certainly no eyesore, for this is bliss incarnate. The vocal tracks have the vocals largely buried in the mix to become another instrumental texture, here the Cocteau comparisons becoming even more apparent. There are also elements of early King Black Acid, hints of the vast Mellonova guitar canvas but with spirit, strength, energy and dynamics, building tracks quickly into pieces where the guitars shine out from the background textures that cover the musical spaces so superbly. In the area that many commentators describe as 'shoegazing' and as fashionable as similar things on current labels such as Kranky and Constellation, this is a tour-de-force of musical excellence. The penultimate track alone uses dynamics and layers to go from melodic bliss to a sonic cauldron of mighty proportions as guitars, bass and drums go effortlessly into orbit and explode into space. Overall, one of the most played albums in my possession right now, and I strongly urge you to repeat the experience.

email

Please log in to email this artist.