alternative / progressive / pop / indie
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Don't you just love those albums that defy classification? Don't you just want to see the face of the record store owner who has to decide where to place a certain album in order to find customers for the thing. Will he put it in the krautrock and psychedelic section, or maybe in the stoner-division, or how about the immense department of pop music? Or indie? Listening to this album apparently makes me imagine that store owner go mad and eventually solving the problem by ordering enough copies to put it in all of the above.
Underwater Sleeping Society is a band from Finland who, apparently, add a progressive touch to bittersweet pop songs from the sixties. With this new album, they return after a hiatus of six years, in which they "learned to be a band again and play for the fun of playing". In a way, you can definitely hear that on 'Instrumental Healthcare', which, by the way, is far from instrumental. There is a certain feeling of joy and utter pleasure, flowing through the melancholic pop melodies.
If I have to compare this music to other artists, I guess I'll mention bands like the Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Coldplay or The Flaming Lips but just as much electronic acts like Air or Röyksopp Opener 'A Ghost In The Room' for example, can be seen as an ancient pop song, enhanced with electronics and elements from post-rock. The result is pure melancholic bliss, guaranteed to make you smile.
Another aspect I like about the album, is the sense of modesty. Not one element, instrument or vocal line gets intrusive or overpowering. Instead, everything remains of a calm, listenable level. It feels like the songs are made by musicians who allow the music to write itself rather than showcasing their own technical abilities. And I like that. It's clearly audible in some my favorite tracks, 'Tomorrow's Yesterday' and the somewhat grungy psychedelic rock song 'Hexagon Eyes'.
Another song worth mentioning is the gloomy 'Big Fish Don't Know' which proves that Underwater Sleeping Society doesn't really cares about styles and genres. In this song you might encounter a hint of reggae, dressed in an indie rock atmosphere. Brilliant. 'Catnip Love' is another favorite, once again a track that beautifully combines the old and the new. Oh well, let's just say that the whole album is a welcome deviation from the harsh, in-your-face music that dominates today's underground scene. Check it out, you need something like this...
Serge
Underwater Sleeping Society is a band from Finland who, apparently, add a progressive touch to bittersweet pop songs from the sixties. With this new album, they return after a hiatus of six years, in which they "learned to be a band again and play for the fun of playing". In a way, you can definitely hear that on 'Instrumental Healthcare', which, by the way, is far from instrumental. There is a certain feeling of joy and utter pleasure, flowing through the melancholic pop melodies.
If I have to compare this music to other artists, I guess I'll mention bands like the Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Coldplay or The Flaming Lips but just as much electronic acts like Air or Röyksopp Opener 'A Ghost In The Room' for example, can be seen as an ancient pop song, enhanced with electronics and elements from post-rock. The result is pure melancholic bliss, guaranteed to make you smile.
Another aspect I like about the album, is the sense of modesty. Not one element, instrument or vocal line gets intrusive or overpowering. Instead, everything remains of a calm, listenable level. It feels like the songs are made by musicians who allow the music to write itself rather than showcasing their own technical abilities. And I like that. It's clearly audible in some my favorite tracks, 'Tomorrow's Yesterday' and the somewhat grungy psychedelic rock song 'Hexagon Eyes'.
Another song worth mentioning is the gloomy 'Big Fish Don't Know' which proves that Underwater Sleeping Society doesn't really cares about styles and genres. In this song you might encounter a hint of reggae, dressed in an indie rock atmosphere. Brilliant. 'Catnip Love' is another favorite, once again a track that beautifully combines the old and the new. Oh well, let's just say that the whole album is a welcome deviation from the harsh, in-your-face music that dominates today's underground scene. Check it out, you need something like this...
Serge