Search - Elf Power :: In a Cave

I have seen you in the dark

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 03/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's something deeply lovable about Elf Power, one of the former Elephant 6 bands that is still together and still making music.



And they sound remarkably fresh in their ninth full-length album, "In A Cave," which is a sprawl of deliciously catchy fuzzed-out psychpop, punctuated by the occasional foray into Krautrock and country. Basically Elf Power is doing what they have always done, and doing it well -- but that doesn't stop them from experimenting a little.



It opens with a blaze of blinding bass, which taps into an awkward little melody... right before "Owl Cut (White Flowers in the Sky)" blooms out into an evocative, bouncy melody drowned in its own fuzziness, and punctuated by stabs of hard synth. Andrew Rieger sings just loud enough to be heard: "Lightning flashing up above/white flowers in the sky... beating hearts that fell apart/they're drowning in the rain..."



Things fuzz out even further in the organ-filled melody of "Spiral Stairs," a thudding fuzzed-out sound that reminds me of catchier stoner rock. But Elf Power sticks mostly to a primary sound here -- melodic, catchy indie-pop with a sunny psychedelic edge. Sometimes you get a quirky psychedelic ballad ("they fill my heart with dust/they fill my heart with lust"), a mellow ballad, and sometimes a fuzz-laced rocker.



But they also try out some other stuff as well -- "Paralyzed" has a fast-paced country-rock sound, although the band isn't quite able to keep the psychpop edge out. And the woobly, out-to-space sound of "Window to Mars" sounds like someone tripping across a keyboard -- nice, though quite a brain-bender.



It's actually rather hard to believe that "In A Cave" is Elf Power's ninth album, because there's little staleness or stagnation in here at all. Though "New Lord" is kind of awkward-sounding, Elf Power's musical polish is all over these tunes, and they're clearly confident enough to juggle styles when they aren't interweaving them smoothly together.



The melodies are led by a stream of solid, sprightly guitar riffs -- some of them are fuzzed out and buzzy, some of them are lean and bouncy. A few songs even have a stoner-rock vibe. And they're seamlessly woven with solid drums, mellow jazzy piano, a bit of plunky banjo, and a gloriously colourful organ that comes up even in "Paralyzed." That organ really gives the whole album that sixties sound.



But what is psychpop without the psychedelic element? The album is wreathed in synth as well -- some sharp stabs at the beginning, but also wavers of shimmering keyboard carefully intertwined with the fuzzy riffs. And there are some odd samples included -- strangled instruments, creaks, strange buzzes and splutters.



And Rieger's pleasant, boyish voice slips through the music like a stream of fresh water. And despite the music's catchiness, he gives it a mildly regretful, reflective quality ("Come on down the spiral stairs/with the end of the world in your eyes/no one ever could follow you there/the corridors have crumbled behind"), in solidly written little lyrics.



"In A Cave" is Elf Power doing what they do best -- melodious, catchy psychpop, but with a few songs reflecting other styles. Definitely worth spelunking in."

If you don't love this album, you don't love music

Christopher Ruble | Fort Wayne, IN | 09/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe there is only one other review of this album. Seriously? Seriously!? This album is insane. I cannot believe I never listened to much of Elf Power before. A lot of my all-time favorite bands/albums are a part of Elephant 6 or associated with them, but for some reason I always passed on buying Elf Power albums, I don't know why. I bought this album a month ago in the afterglow of a My Morning Jacket concert, and I was immediately amazed at how it sounded overall and I thought the vocals were right on.



I had to listen to it several more times to see the genius, but damn, once I got into all the songs, not only are they catchy as anything you'll hear, but the lyrics are maybe better than anything I've heard this year or for a while. The lyrics are mystical, haunting, storytelling, melodic, scenic, sad, uplifting, etc. It's like reading a great book with great songs jumping out from the story. There is not one bad song in the lot, not even an okay song; every song is beautiful and captivating. Give your full attention to this album and you will be very pleased, I promise you. Easily one of the best 5 albums of this year, I hope more people give this album a chance. This isn't just a really solid album that you'll listen to occasionally, this might be one of those special ones, the ones that holds you up when you are shaky."