Chilled, wispy beauty wafts through the ether thanks to this offering from Adelaide duo Toby1. Think Lamb with a slightly dirty Portishead twist. Think Goldfrapp with the volume down and a battalion of computers. Think uplifting vocals with neat machine-gun drum patterns underneath.
European gives a promising start with its cooler-than-cool attitude while 7x7 funks it up a little more in an almost countrified fashion. The vocals come through less processed, there’s less of the computer-cool and more of the quirky, dirty joy from vocalist and ‘live’ instrumentalist. Ruth Wilson. The track takes a standard formula – trip hop’s version of the 12-bar Blues – but it allows the group’s personality to come through. Wilson’s vocals are more adventurous and the synth sounds have a unique character that would be welcomed as ‘trademark’ Toby1.
Svetlana gets my track-of-the-album vote. For once, Toby1 present something that doesn’t sound like it wants to be someone else. There’s a well-chosen sample that is skilfully incorporated into the musical content of the composition. Fabulous clarinet solos are complimented by hints of mandolin which all contribute to moments of World Music, yet the vocals are dense and low, giving the piece a focus but not taking over from the more interesting instrumental content.
The computer is used to decorate each track; think of it as aural tinsel speckling the Christmas tree incarnate as album. The ten tracks that comprise Cracks Increase show a convincing belief in their product and a uniformity of vision. Beautiful background sounds, sweet beats, mean vocals – if only they’d take a few more risks and decide to be unique rather than to emulate.
Serena Armstrong
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