Visiter

by

The Dodos

Edit

I was unaware of this band prior to buying their album - I had happened upon the page by some odd circumstance and saw the glowing, albeit small number, of reviews. I listened to the clips and thought it sounded interesting enough to take a chance on. I had the sense that even if the seven prior reviews were submitted by friends of the band that the little I had heard was enough of a guarantee that I would not be disappointed.

Do not be deceived by the cover of the album. Some covers oversell the music; this one is very humble. A first listen to this album is much like receiving a gift wrapped in brown paper from a distant but dear friend - It is a wonderful surprise from a source both familiar and enriched by new experiences. I played this album while on my way to work and was so captivated by it that I remained outside, sitting under the blue sky and growing trees, until the last song had played out.

Every song on Visiter is a wonderful piece of craft but it is even better taken as a complete experience. I have many albums of which I have only a few songs that I listen to: Visiter is a exciting ride from start to finish. The band should be quite proud of this evocation.

The music is full of driving rhythms punctuated by bright, crisp off-beat percussion, surrounded by moments of guitar (sometimes clear and upbeat, sometimes roughly acoustic, sometimes distorted), banjo, and (I believe) I heard an uke as well. It swells, flows, recedes and then hits you where you can feel it. Every sound in this album feels well-intended and vital, adding a variety of twists of melody, tone, and tempo that make this one of the most exciting albums I have heard in this year. The vocals are excellent and beautiful as are the lyrics which are sensitive and well-written, fun, evocative, and well-worth a deeper listen.

I believe (sticking my neck out here) that listeners of any of the following bands would find this an exceptional addition (I go further: if all these groups were placed in a musical blender you may come out with a rough approximation):

- Menomena

- Beirut

- Sufjan Stevens

- The Magnetic Fields

- Death Cab for Cutie

- Neutral Milk Hotel

With all the ingredients to quickly become my favorite band I recommend this without reservation. I can imagine that they are also brilliant as a live act, which I hope to personally confirm soon...

Update (July 2008): Excellent live band as well - can't wait until next time they come around.

As a whole, this is just not aesthetically appealing music, in my opinion. If there is some esoteric genre it fits into that I've never heard of, like "acoustic-echo-repetitive-detune" or something, then I apologize. All I have to compare it to are bands that I much prefer, such as the folksier Avetts or the more harmonious Fleet Foxes.

Some of the shorter tracks are okay, and I agree with others here that it's remarkable how much diversity is wrung out of just a few instruments and effects. However, too much of the album just plain annoys me. It's hard to get a grasp, based on the sample clips, of how long and harsh passages from some of the tracks actually are ("Joe's Waltz," I'm looking at you).

Obviously there is a type of person who would really enjoy Visiter, but I'm not sure I have ever met that type.