textura

Albums
Alejandro & Aeron
Balustrade Ensemble
Jeremy Bible
F.S. Blumm
Cadence Weapon
Cataclyst
Cepia
Chloé
Cooler
Disinterested
edIT
Erik Enocksson
For Barry Ray
Ernest Gonzales
Grand National
Hakobune
Halou
Frode Haltli
Arve Henriksen
Ielasi & Ratti
Jumpel
Lawrence
Lickets
Manual
Melodium
Mono
My Fun
Marissa Nadler
Prints
Rekalix
Remote_ vs Ontayso
Will Saul
Sixtoo
Small Sails
Songs Of Green Pheasant
Christian Wallumrød
White Rainbow
Xeltrei
Yndi Halda

Compilations / Mixes
Paolo Mojo
Ewan Pearson
VA: 5 Years Get Physical
VA: Monza Vol. 2
VA: U-cover mix 01 [a]
VA: U-cover mix 02 [d]

3"/ 7"/ 10"/ 12"/ EPs
Ateleia
Pier Bucci
Cio D'Or
Cloudland Canyon
Curium
Laurine Frost
Dave Graham
Hakobune
The Infant Cycle
Lerosa
Lullaby Leagure
Mole Harness
Mowbray & Sullivan
Ontayso
School of Seven Bells
Science Teacher
Sleep Robot
Unwed Sailor
VA: Spies & Lies
Rick Wade

Prints: Prints
Temporary Residence

Accompanying press notes trumpet Prints' self-titled release as a sonic distillation of Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, and Brian Wilson, a pitch that doesn't do collaborators Kenseth Thibideau (Tarentel, Sleeping People, Pinback) and Zac Nelson (Who's Your Favorite Son God) any favours by setting up standards that few, if any, new group endeavors could match. But disregard the promotional hyperbole, and Prints' release starts sounding a whole lot more tolerable, and even, in places, great.

Even after repeated exposure to Prints' lean, 35-minute set, one strains to hear evidence of Talking Heads, Gabriel, or Eno, though Prints does embrace an eclectic approach to instrumentation and assembles its home-recorded material with precision (the robotic drum stomp and skeletal chants in “Pretty Tick” do suggest a Devo influence, of all things). But it's certainly no stretch to hear Prints as a heavily-influenced descendant of The Beach Boys. The multi-tiered, stereophonic vocal harmonies in “Easy Magic” clearly nod in the group's direction and the song's lead vocal even vaguely suggests Carl Wilson, and using a distorted thumb piano for the ricocheting melody in the background is an inspired Brian Wilson-like touch too. It's the vocalising that impresses most, so much so that, by the song's close, one is left marveling at the awesome arrangement. Not surprisingly, the band's music appeals less when vocals are downplayed, as the near-instrumental “I Wanna Know” makes clear.

Stylistic plenitude elevates Prints' material, much as it does Sunflower, and Prints occasionally exhibits a ‘60s-styled propensity for druggy experimentalism: “Meditation” enters psychedelic drone territory by merging acoustic guitars and a croaking choir, while a jarring mosaic of swirling synths, ecstatic chants, and aggressive drum beats slowly comes together during the trance-like “End.” The jubilant samba “Blue Jay” nicely showcases the group's breezy side (helped along by the bright trill of Mark Lacsamana's flute), while the party romp “Too Much Water” indulges a rock'n'roll side that, yes, calls to mind Beach Boys' classics like “Surfin' USA,” “Marcella,” and others.

October 2007