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Blotto
Singles Collection 2004-2007 |
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Tracklist |
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01 - ttyy
02 - mila
03 - U-Lite
04 - corner
05 - canaria
06 - reappearing rig
07 - stereo
08 - R.G.B.
09 - sugar |
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Review |
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So, Spangle Call Lilli Line has finally decided to cash in and sell out. Well, no, not exactly. The band's signature downtempo/post-rock certainly is alive and well, but Trace finds them working more heavily with the poppier side of their formula while trimming down the music to a much leaner whole. Unfortunately, they've sliced away some of the muscle along with the fat.
Any nonbelievers need not look any farther than "mila" and "U-Lite" for how priorities have changed. Yes, those are actual verses and choruses that have somehow invaded their style. The simple percussion and slightly funky, understated basslines combined with Kana's breathy vocals and her backing "ah"s and "ooh"s even contribute an R&B flair. A catchy riff to open and close "mila" pretty much makes the song early summer pop hit-ready.
Well, pop stigmas aside, the marriage of newfound pop sensibility with the familiar Spangle Call sound does make for a good match. Both of the aforementioned songs are catchy but smart, with the band willing to up the ante on pop with their characteristic array of intermittent horns, piano and jangly chimes.
Still, after three tracks Spangle Call's about ready to head back into space on Trace, but even then, their apparent decision to keep the music more straightforward chains them down to low orbit. This holds Trace to a shorter running time than their earlier releases and effectively puts a damper on their usual meandering instrumental sections.
Nearly all the remaining cuts run their course in about five minutes, thanks to the more concise writing. Sometimes this works ("reappearing rig," "canaria"), though other times the songs start strong only to peter out and devolve into overly cyclic phrasings, becoming slightly mindless. However, on "canaria," the group finally stretches its creative wings to come up with a winner. The steel drums add a much-needed extra flavor to the soundscape, which pleasantly dissolves into slightly busy acid jazz before fading to the sound of tribal drums.
Trace has essentially presented itself as "Spangle Call Lilli Line lite." "mila" and "U-Lite" will appeal to fans and newcomers alike, and "canaria" is a welcome addition to the catalog, but the rest of the tracks, while solid, are outdone by the band's previous efforts. The pop angle of Spangle Call's music is well worth exploring, but next time the group slims down their sound, they should be more careful with the knife. |
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