REVIEWSMUSIC
Tim Hecker
Love Streams4AD/Remote Control
★★★★
Spectral beauty from
pre-eminent innovator
For his eighth studio album,
Canadian-born Tim Hecker
returnedtoIcelandforase-
ries of recording sessions over
a two-year period, inspired by
thechoralworksof15thcen-
tury European composer, Jos-
quin des Prez. Taking the vocal
graceoftheIcelandicChoirEn-
semble, the woodwind arrange-
mentsofGrímurHelgasonand
thekeyboardcontributionsof
Kara-Lis Coverdale, Hecker
used elaborate programming
techniques to create what may
be perceived as unstructured
ambience.Therealityisacom-
plexitythatispalpableanda
record that is incredibly so-
phisticated and intentionally
ambiguous. Desolate, haunt-
ing, uplifting;Love Streamsis
above all, beautiful. MEL LAKE
Tacocat
Lost TimeHardly Art/Inertia
★★★
Seattlerockersgoforkookand
consistency on third LPTheymayhaveaddedproducer
Erik Blood (Shabazz Palaces)
to the mix this go round, but
don’texpectanyavanthip-hop
on album three from Tacocat.
Instead, it’s business as usu-
al: Nineties-influenced gui-
tar pop/surf-rock that covers
mostly lighthearted subject
matter (the LP’s title and “Dana
Katherine Scully” pay tribute
toThe X-Files;“HorseGrrls”
is an ode to equine-obsessed
females) with an upbeat, in-
fectious party vibe (even when
thesongtopicsarelesstongue-
in-cheek,aswithsexismtake-
down “Men Explain Things to
Me”).There’slittleintheway
of surprise or variation, but it’s
hard to begrudge a band too
much when they’re having this
much fun. JAMES JENNINGSTinpan Orange
LoveisaDogInd.
★★★½
Melbourne trio keep the
guttering folk-pop flame alight
Co-produced by established
collaborator Harry James An-
gus(theCatEmpire)andcrys-
tallising the more cinematic
thrust ofOver the Sun(2012),
Loveexplores the emptiness
that attends both excessive
emotional attachment and
overabundant material wealth.
Longtime consort and now
fixtureAlexBurkoy’ssilken
string embellishments neatly
complement Jesse Lubitz’s
quicksilver guitar textures and
thealbum’smoodykeys,while
vocalistEmilyLubitzbreathes
gauzy feeling and nebulous
misgivings into proceedings.
The world-weary “Fools and
Cowboys” and mood-pieces
likethebrooding“Diary”con-
firmLoveas Tinpan Orange’s
most assured songwriting ef-
fort to date. GARETH HIPWELL
Operators
Blue WaveLast Gang Records
★★★★
Canadian renaissance rocker
does it again with new trioDanBoecknerisaccustomedto
smashing out tense post-punk/
indie-synthwhereverthehell
his muse takes him. Over the
past decade that’s included Wolf
Parade, Handsome Furs, Di-
vine Fits, and now his new trio,
Operators. His latest incarna-
tion doubles-down on stomping
rock anthems emblematic of
Boeckner’s most urgent tunes,
but now it’s squeezed through
buzzing synths, chorus pedals,
andanoirishEightiesgrit–
Springsteen’s suburban angst
via Joy Division. “Cold Light”
and“Evil”arethemostobvi-
ousexampleshere;“Mission
Creep” messes those expecta-
tions with blistering scrambled
synths and skronking brass,
while dystopian jam “Bring Me
the Head” gleefully merges the
two. MARCUS TEAGUEPhew,isithotinhere?ClairyBrowne’sdebut
sans her Bangin’ Rackettes jettisons the vin-
tage soul vibe for a much more down and dirty
definition of R&B. From the Jacksons to TLC
to Destiny’s Child, her touchstones are clear
butcan’thopetodetractfromherparticularbrandofclass,
bothasaturbo-lungedsingerandawriteronasupremely
confident roll.
Eventhehornssoundlikethey’reslidingoutofthelady’s
wayintheopeningboastof“VanityFair”,adeliciouslyloose
grooveofclatteringdrumsandleanbass
that sets the agenda with due reference
to dropped trousers, dripping juice and
grown men weeping.
The scintillating image of clothing hit-
tingthedeckturnsouttobearunninggag,fromthedisco
stringsandfleshyshimmerofthetitletracktothehardand
horny holler of “Birthday Suit”.
Thebrassyfrontmeltsintheswoonof“CaliFallingFor
You”,there’srealacheintheslo-mocollapseof“StillGood-
bye” and tenderness, finally, in the morning-after reflection
ofthelayeredpianoballad,“Spiral”.
But“F.U.B.”isthe“fuckyou”nomangetsupfrom,and
“Killem With It” finds her slipping her “sweet silhouette”
intoa“pinkcorvette”likeitwasbornthere.L.A.accomplices
(chieflyAmandaWarner,akaMNDR)naturallylendweight,
but it’s Browne’s presence and control that leave us dripping
and spent. MICHAEL DWYERBrowne Turns
Up the Heat
Clairy BrownePoolCaroline★★★★
Melbourne soul diva upgrades to
R&B class in Los AngelesKEY TRACKS:
“Vanity Fair”,
“LoveSongTo
the World”100 | Rolling Stone | RollingStoneAus.com May, 2016