Like any newcomer anxious to separate themselves from a daunting universe of internet spun studios, Loaf Records from London have selected and released this little compilation promoting their most valued assets. The record is certainly a weird one and they’re just a little too conscious of how weird it is. Sometimes it’s just downright annoying.
‘Fax Me’ by Supertalented, the second to last track is one such musical mistake. This bit of obnoxious twee sets a new standard for empty headedness; all I have to do is state a line from the lyrics and sit back down: “Text me, why don’t you text me”. Powerful stuff guys. Fortunately, this is the lowest point in the release but made worse by occurring right at the end. In fact, the whole compilation has little or no arrangement, jarring and without flow, a run of Nickelodeon cartoons back to back.
A sub label of Lo Records, Loaf Records is proud of its own style of garage electronics. Their music is a soundtrack for a generation raised on video games and PC lifestyle – a sort of Bleep Pop employing cute robotics, stripped down Autechre oddity coupled with your standard twee vocals.
Two bands worthy of note introduce Domestic Pop: Câlvin’s cheeky electronic mocking in ‘Money Poney’ and Cursor Miner’s ‘Never Been Seen’ which, in technique, borrows its punchy, sliced guitar sampling from Beck. Going further artistically, the lengthy, stream-of-consciousness structure of Oen Sujet’s ‘Bird and Binocular’ lurches forward as if under influence of black coffee and hash. The rest of the compilation starts to loose its mind, and not in the Van Gogh genius sort of way but the awkward, cringe inducing kind of way. Despite the record’s good humour and ambitions for individuality, their claim “We’ve grown up” doesn’t ring true. Not yet at least.
(© Copyright 2010 Brendan Morgan)
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