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George and Caplin, "Secluded Malls And Scenic Byways / Requiem for An Encyclopedia"
After a brief introductory song that sets the languid tone, the second throws out a hook with a luxurious bass line, reeling me in. At this point bootgazing becomes the order of the day. On their seventh release the duo easily straddles starry eyed left-field pop and drones as expansive as America's western plains.
The first disc of this double album is enchanted and imagistic, evoking memories of dust flickering in the air like warm snow as shafts of light pour through the windowpanes. The songs are generally slow, though never sluggish. The events of the album proceed according to the logic of a surrealist film, creating non-linear moods as opposed to strict narrative. Yet the landscape is recognizable: it's a place on the western side of the Mississippi where buffalo roam the wild and where vaqueros rassle steeds.
There is nothing country about this album although there is plenty of melancholy, beer-crying twang. This is exhibited best on "Wilderness Eyes," which also features supple vocals and round splashes of tambourine and snare which keep the pace from falling completely into the wilderness of analog synth tones that are prominent throughout the twelve songs. I enjoy it when the singing is showcased, especially on "Sleep Deep," whose propulsive bass line recalls favorite moments from groups like Wire or Gang of Four. The instrumental songs which dominate the album investigate the use of keyboards as if they were banjos, the amplified sonority of slide guitars, random snippets of AM truck stop radio, all drizzled with syrupy synthesizer sweetness akin to cherry pie had at a late night diner. This is a great soundtrack for a road trip: a rural voyage into the land of low dunes and tall grass. It is warm and smooth enough to comfortably allow the drift of ones own thoughts, while still retaining enough kick and bite to propel me down the highway on a lonely night.
The second disc, "Requiem For An Encyclopedia," recalls the infinite libraries and labyrinths of Jorge Luis Borges. The twelve tracks correspond to the twelve volumes of an encyclopedia, the first piece being "Volume A-E", the second "Volume C-D" all the way down to "Volume W-Z". Listeners are also encouraged to approach this disc as a curious mind approaching an encyclopedia, to open it up at random and read the articles in any order. As an encyclopedia it is not meant to be tackled straight through, A to Z, but as a reference to be returned to again and again. Composed of short loops ranging from 36 seconds to just under two minutes it is best left to play on shuffle for hours on end. Truly soothing and vibrant it sweeps from low end to high end with lush and lulling simplicity. There is a recurring flute or woodwind sound that swirls around with the synthesizer like a humming bird darting back and forth, hovering and zigzagging around fruits and flowers. And it is as pleasant to listen to as a humming bird is to watch.
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