-
Damian Leslie
Independent
Clauses (2/5/09)
Friendly
Psychics Music is one of my favorite record labels of all time. It
is basically composed of Chris
Jones, John Wenzel, and their group of
friends. People are occasionally grafted into the group, and each friend
gets their own project name. The Jones/Wenzel aesthetic is extremely
idiosyncratic, in that I could recognize an a FPM release in less than ten
seconds, even
if I’ve never heard it. Their vaguely psychedelic, fractured folk and
indie rock is incredibly unique and difficult to break into, but it’s
rewarding once you do.
Derecho is not far outside the FPM model. Dropped at
10,000 Feet features Dan Miller (a major player in the FPM catalog, although
not as forefront
as Jones/Wenzel) as the primary songwriter, with Jones on bass and Wenzel
contributing on only two songs. Miller has a much more honed pop aesthetic
than Jones/Wenzel, and that makes the songs on this EP some of the most straightforward
indie-rock tunes that FPM has ever released.
It doesn’t mean they’re
normal (I don’ t think FPM does
normal), but they’re a lot more accessible than flagship artist Dishwater
Psychics. Miller strums his guitar consistently (something that is taken
for granted until you hear FPM artists that, well, don’t) and has driving
bass and guitar to back it up. Miller’s vocals and lyrics are also
much more caustic and bitter than Wenzel’s mournful baritone and
overarching sense of disdain, giving the release a distinctly different
attitude than
other FPM releases.
The songs move quickly and induce head-bobbing, but the
caustic delivery of the vocals may turn some off, especially in the self-loathing “Canadian
Whiskey” (which, for the record, is my favorite type. I’m drinking
some now, in honor). The highlight here is closer “Measured in Millions,” where
Wenzel contributes vocals. Wenzel’s voice has become a part of my musical
consciousness, but it’s almost always used in jarring and abstract
atmospheres. Hearing it paired with the driving, reverb-washed indie-rock
of Dan Miller’s invention is incredible. The two pieces fit together
perfectly; if Wenzel had sung on each of the tracks on this EP, it would
have been even better than it is now. Maybe that’s the next project?
Derecho’s
Dropped at 10,000 Feet is a good turn for the FPM guys. It’s
not my favorite release by them, but it certainly is high on my list.
Reining in some of the more aesthetically challenging parts of the FPM
ourve was
a nice change. If you like cerebral indie pop (like Grizzly Bear, Beach
House, etc) or off-kilter vocals (Modest Mouse, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah,
etc, although
Miller is nowhere near as grating as Alec Ounsworth), this should be
one to check out.
- Stephen Carradini
Whisperin & Hollerin (1/8/10)
Apparently, a derecho is a violent straight-line
windstorm, and this seems a bit
of a misnomer, as this E.P. comprises of five tracks of bright jangling
indie pop. Derecho is a project by Daniel Miller, Chris Jones and John
Wenzel, who previously worked together in the ‘Dishwater Psychics’.
The
first track ‘Plight of the Dropsonde Operator’ starts off
in an upbeat fashion, with melodic guitar lines that wouldn’t seem
out of place being compared to some of the ‘Velvet Underground’s’ more
tender songs. I had to find out what a dropsonde was by checking in the dictionary
(it is a weather reconnaissance
device). This is a pleasant opener which
seems to follow the age old problem of relationship splits. “You were
my friend. You’re not any more. I would repent if I only knew
what for.”
'
Will You Tell Me?’ follows, and is pretty much more of the same, but
with some clever lyrics about alienation within consumer society:- “
Another ad for a product to enhance the libido, I think I’m going to
scream.” This is quite clever and approached in a way that indicates
both anger and resignation. “And the morons and dregs we call politicians
don’t understand my point
of view” Right on! I think that this rings true for everyone today.
‘
The Zoo Outside The Zoo’ is another slice of pure pop with some
good harmonies, however the lyrics didn’t hit the mark for me on this one
being somewhat all over the place. “
I once knew a girl who loved to testify. Every time she got into trouble
she’d make up a bigger lie”, as a result, this for me was the
weakest track on the E.P. ‘
Canadian Whiskey’ is a really great song about a character full of
self-loathing and looking only for his next drink in order to feel better
about himself. The lyrics are spot on, and the darker edged more brooding
music suits the atmosphere perfectly. “
I’m having one of those moments when I want to kick my own ass….
been thinking a bit too much about what went wrong”and “I’ve
become a disgrace, but with Canadian whiskey I’ll be fine.”
The
closing track on the E.P. ‘measured in Millions’ has John
Wenzel on vocals and is the perfect finish, being a stream of observation
and comment. “ The clouds along the range were all standing at attention,
and the colours of their insides were just too weird to mention” I liked
this E.P. and if this is a foretaste of things to come, then potentially
a long player could be very good indeed.
author: Nick Browne
7 out of 10
Erasing
Clouds (11/07/09)
Sublime melodies and dark imagery comprise this surprising fun-filled lo-fi indie pop gem. Smart and intelligent lyrics are pureed with bittersweet melodies and lovely backdrops of harmonious guitars and vocals.
-J. Sin
Derecho
- Dropped at 10,000 Feet
(Friendly Psychics Music) 8 stars
Dan
Miller has been a long time producer for Friendly Psychics Music, but
only now he has dared
to take over the instruments. In his band Derecho, he played nearly all
the parts, only Chris Jones did the bass guitar, and label founder John
Wenzel guests as guitarist and vocalist.
They call their influences Pink
Floyd, Flaming Lips, ELO and Tobin Sprout, which should help to give
an impression of what to expect. Like we are used
from Friendly Psychics Music, Derecho are sounding quite lo-fi, but they
still differ from other genre bands. While the opener Plight Of The Dropsonde
Operator still sounds rather typical, the band shows their love for Sixties
retro patterns on the two following tracks. Derecho are also open for further
musical styles on Canadian Whiskey with musical parts à la Hedwig
and the Angry Inch but also blues elements. The CD’s top moment comes
with the concluding Measured In Millions with John Wenzel on vocals, turning
this song into a regular hit.
Derecho are another new musical project from
Friendly Psychics Music that instantly knows to please. But just like their
label mates Brainswarm, they
have to prove that they are able to keep up this high quality level on a
hopefully soon-to-follow longplayer.
-Lex Thiel