Candidate – Psychic Dissonance From Te Unself
I think we can all agree that the Toy Story trilogy is a fantastic example of modern filmmaking. As a child the jovial parts of Toy Story naturally appealed to me more, but as a grown up I think the challenging parts are the most charming, and certainly the most emotive. I think everybody can empathise with Woody when he is grappling with the possibility of losing his place as Andy’s favourite plaything; everyone deals with loss at some point, and Andy’s faded signature on the bottom of Woody’s foot is a stunningly effective metaphor. Everybody had a favourite toy; mine was a stuffed tiger called Stripey. Tankfully he never got lost, or got broken beyond repair, as I don’t think I’d have coped in my childhood without him. Once you have a favourite, it’s very difficult to ever replace that. So what’s my point here? Well, in a round-about sort of way, Candidate are one of a whole host of bands who will unfortunately never be the favourite. Eventually to be consigned to a wooden chest labelled ‘Derivatives’, they share their fleeting success with plenty of other bands, plastic dinosaurs, and Mr Potato- Heads. It’s not that this record is bad, despite the preposterous title, it’s just not one you’ll fall in love it. By virtue of their name, Toy are the obvious shoegaze/dreamrock favourites at the moment. Teir debut is hogging the limelight, and I think I’d suggest that as an alternative to this. Alex Trossell
42 /October 2012/
outlineonline.co.uk
Te Vagaband – Town and Country (Eggsong Recordings)
Chances are, if you’re some kind of lad / lass about town, you may have been treated to the sounds of Te Vagaband in a live capacity, either plonked outside Jarrolds, like they’d just been transported from somewhere much more gauche and lively, or in one of our esteemed live venues. If you’re reading this out of Norwich, you may even have joined in the party as they played around the country, most notably, to great reception at Glastonbury. I’ll now allow you to take leave of your memory – it’s a burden anyway – and forget they were ever a ‘Norwich band’. You see, when you get an entire long player of such quality and warmth, it’s completely irrelevant. Tis, their debut album, proves their national worth as roots / country / skiffle artists, however you like to play your game of pin the genre on the donkey. What the recorded version enables is some clever and deliberate production, the precision of which can’t be attained in the open air of busking in the sound-swirling elements. Each instrument has its moment, the inclusion and volume is considered, and Jose McGill’s honey-on-a-raw-throat vocals sound more romantic than ever. Te album has an even temperament throughout, and it could do with a bit more of an injection of pace, which ‘An Ocean’ journeys towards, but on the whole it’s a saucy and cool offering, which can only be further enjoyed when we’re privileged to see them again live. We hope their boots have got more travelling in them as the country adopts the album, but we sure hope they keep finding their way home. Tiny Dancer
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