WK17 - Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca (9.5)

Released: 6/9/09

Label: Domino Recording Co. LTD

BLURB - Of course they're from Brooklyn! Since moving to New York two years ago, I've been able to get access to a diverse selection of new, different and exciting music, as opposed to say, I don't know...Oneonta. I've found that with every new band I see, or new record I buy, the best ones are always from Brooklyn. While I am not hipster (I actually kind of despise hipsters) I have to give Brooklyn credit. It is a breeding ground for new and refreshing music. The Dirty Projectors are my most recent obsession. Their sound is such a clever take on what pop music is supposed to be - resulting in this quirky, indie, hipster Brooklyn-pop. Time signatures are all over the place, there are both male and female vocals, the writing and song structures are terribly, if not amazingly, unique - it's like Dirty Projectors put up all these walls for your average music fan to get through. However, once you get past these barriers...you're hooked.

Rating - 9.5 out of 10

FULL STORY - So unbeknownst to me, Dirty Projectors have been around for the better part of a decade. My loss. Right away the song that drew me in was, 'Stillness is the Move.' The track is very minimalist - just drums with one guitar riff and a catchy vocal hook. That's it. This paves the way for the lyrical content to be the center of attention. The song is extremely uplifting, almost hopeful in a way, earnestly questioning how things came to be and how to move forward. Love is the core element to this song, but it can be interpreted in many different ways. Below is the chorus with it's subsequent verse:

'After all that we've been through; I know we'll make it after the wait. The question is a truth. There is nothing we can't do. I'll see you along the way baby. The stillness is the move. / On top of every mountain there was a great longing for an even higher mountain. In each city, longing for a bigger city. After all that we've been through, I know I will always love you from now until forever. I can't imagine anything better.'

Yes - I am a sucker for a good indie-pop love song, and this is one of the best I've ever heard. It's incredibly addictive.

The best non-love song to endear your heart is easily, 'Useful Chamber.' Going back and forth from a catchy and lightly electronic verse to a very garage-esque, yet folksy chorus creates quite the pairing. The bridge throws another monkey wrench into the scene as a brief 80's style hip hop drum beat and dialogue gives way to a fusion of thunderous cymbals, background effects and guitars chaotically playing nothing in particular. Emerging from this volcanic eruption of craziness is a chorus of vocal harmonies, laying a serene foundation for the song to revert to it's peaceful and light mood. After another verse the chaos is back again, with screaming guitars, effects and no real organization......but in a good way.

Jumping into some pure folk stylings, Dirty Projectors appear dialed in to the song, 'Two Doves.' The gentile voicing of the strings and acoustic guitars against the heavenly vocals of Amber Coffman is bliss. During the chorus you almost feel like you are listening to a vocal performed by the lead female of a broadway play. This song could definitely be used for other performance arts (film, musicals, dance) and has the lyrical weight to bring added substance to it's usage. The track is filled with clever word plays and metaphors such as, 'Kiss me with your mouth open for your love is better than wine.' Awww.

This isn't a lovey-dovey record, despite having a couple really good lovey-dovey songs on it. 'Temecula Sunrise' and 'The Bride' throw some rock and southern guitar stylings into the mix, with lyrics that take an in-depth look at life's everyday quandaries. 'No Intention' even reminds me a little bit of an airy MGMT. This album, though, really does have everything. The lyrics to the instrumentation, to the sound and feel...it's just a great record. Surprisingly, great.

Tracks

1.) Cannibal Resource

2.) Temecula Sunrise

3.) The Bride

4.) Stillness is the Move

5.) Two Doves

6.) Useful Chamber

7.) No Intention

8.) Remade Horizon

9.) Fluorescent Half Dome