Search - An Horse :: Rearrange Beds

Enticing debut album

Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 05/25/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This Australian band with the weird name An Horse, consisting of Kate Cooper and Damon Cox, was "discovered" by Tegan and Sara, and after a very promising debut EP "Not Really Scared" last year, now comes the debut album.



"Rearranging Beds" (10 tracks; 36 min.) immediately brings a burst of energy with the rousing opener "Camp Out" and doesn't let up from there. The guitars are up front throughout, and Katie Cooper's vocals are urgent. The songs are short, make their point, and move on. While it's hard to point out 'highlights' as such, my favorite songs include the title track, "Little Little Little" and "Little Longs", THE masterpiece on here, a 5+ min. epic whomper that leaves you flattened, and you just want to listen to it again and again, wow. After all that, the album closes wisely with a pensive "Listen", which caps the album beautifully.



In all, this is a very enticing debut album. Not sure that it will find a lot of airplay anywhere, but do seek this out! Even though An Horse has toured/opened for Teagan and Sara and DCFC, I haven't had an opportunity yet to see An Horse in concert, but I'm hoping that I will get that chance soon. Meanwhile, "Rearranging Beds" is highly recommended!"

Please put on that record again...and again...and again...

Cia Cia | Brooklyn, NY United States | 04/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Both simple and sublime, this debut album from An Horse is irresistibly catchy while still remaining unique within the indie/rock/pop genre that so many try to succeed at these days - and often fail. Yes, their friendship and mentorship with Tegan and Sara might have rubbed off on their style, but this lad and lady of Australia might even give the Canadian sisters a run for their money.



Rearrange Beds revisits many of our alternative rock memories. Go back to the first time you heard Sleater Kinney or albums such as The Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream. Can you still feel that twinge of excitement that there's something good lying here - something promising? Or, as Kate Cooper herself explains in the opening track, "like that good Hole album - I can Live Through This" - do you remember a time when you felt like good music was all you needed in order to live for the moment? Rearrange Beds recreates these memories while satisfying that longing nostalgia with the realization that - yes - people still do make some good pop rock records after all.



There is never a dull moment within this album. I'll admit - the first time I'd heard Little Lungs, I was stumped and mistakenly skipped it the first few times it attempted to play on my iPod. It didn't take long until this loveable piece insisted to play all the way through and I was emotionally connected to every last note. My point - just when you think An Horse might let you down, they pick you up again and connect you to something gorgeous. And that always something worth investing in.



If you have the chance, I strongly recommend seeing them live (after you've picked up this gem, of course). They are fantastic people and talented musicians, who care about what their doing and seem to love every minute of it."