Bands have always need to transition to survive. At least if you're not planning to become Status Quo. Halifax's finest, Orielles clearly know this. Having set off at a ludicrously young age, and made a name for themselves on the Indie circuit with a sparky live show and records, they've gone for a markedly different approach with fourth album Tableau.
A double album that manages to be somehow spacey and minimal at one and the same time, Tableau is certainly brave in that the one thing it's clearly not looking to do is break the band into the mainstream and get daytime Radio 1 or 6 Music radio play. Much of it feels like a set of demos, with the trio working things out while we listen in and it's certainly none the worse for that. There's so much light and shade here. So much invention.
From the start, Stereolab have been Orielles guiding stars. Nowt wrong with that. This remains the case here. But Orielles have always been more eclectic in their tastes, referencing Krautrock, disco and the likes of Marquee Moon, Jane Weaver, St. Etienne, Vanishing Twin and Exotica and Jazz in their playlists, interviews and records. This seems the territory they wish to occupy.
Tableau is a bold move in this direction. A record I'll certainly come back to. It strikes me as a marker that Orielles are determined to be in this for the long run. On this evidence they have a very good shot. It's a splendid record.
No comments:
Post a Comment