el perro del mar
memphis industries have travelled the world far and wide in recent times to find all sorts of records that wouldn't normally get an audience in the uk. most famously the psyche rock of dungent SEEMED TO INDICATE THEIR MISSION. this time though, things are a little different. 10 tracks of sweet acoustic guitars and softly softly Scandinavian female vocals, by sarah assbring (aka el perro del mar) that will either make you recoil in abject horror at the overtly innocent sweetness, or fall in complete love. initial listens will probably float by with hardly anything registering, BUT STRAP ON THE HEADPHONES, SETTLE down for 32 minutes WITH A MUG OF HOT CHOCOLATE, get cozy, and let this album soothe away any stresses that the world has imposed. don't get me wrong, this album is not an exercise in mundane pro-tooled modern studio creations a la dido. instead, the delicate vulnerability within the vocals, is matched against some very traditional 60's styled pop song structures, the orchestral extras on the hand clappy 'god knows (you gotta to give)' will have you wondering where you left that beehive wig and polka dot skirt, the phased, layered vocal tricks that are applied across several tracks, and the sha-la-la'd glockenspiel opening of 'people', will give fans of phil spector a nice warm glow. i should warn, the album is not one for a red wine fuelled saturday night, this is a soundtrack for people with issues of the heart and soul, it's vibe is predominantly a down trodden affair. in fact, it could be said that this is a perfect acoustic pop companion piece to go alongside that other current scanda-pop queen, annie, and that's quite a compliment in my books.
so, memphis industries have yet another girl fronted pop icon in their release schedule, if you want 60's styled happy up tempo girl pop, there is the glorious pipettes, then for those moody downtempo days when the rain is pouring and the heart yearning, there is el perro del mar.