Tunng - …And Then We Saw Land
Record Label: Full Time Hobby Records
Release Date: March 1, 2010
When you look forward to something there’s buildup, anticipation and typically loud bragging to those who have nothing cool to anticipate. It’s a nice feeling, especially after the bragging, but it’s one that can bring disappointment with a slight chance of “aww shucks.” Thus my fragile psyche prefers the old-fashioned out-of-left-field (sports metaphor!) surprise. If it’s bad, at least I didn’t spend anytime dreading. If it’s good, at least I didn’t spend anytime dreading. Still, Tunng didn’t exactly pants me from behind. It was more like when someone is asked to appear on Maury. You’ve got an idea of how it will go, but you can’t be sure until you’re taking the paternity test. See, I had previously enjoyed 2007’s Good Arrows. It’s girl-guy vocals and twee-pop mentality always seemed to latch onto my music nipple without difficulty. But with this year’s …And Then We Saw Land, the band has created something truly special.
What Good Arrows lacked was tension. Now lyrically, …Land is all-around a happy record (look to opener “Hustle” and its tips on how to be free or “Don’t Look Down or Back”). But now the experimentation with electric guitars, even more electronic sampling and a focus on vocalist Becky Jacobs has brought Tunng to a paradise of exceeded expectations. Even a soft lullaby like “With Whiskey” finds the two vocalists rising to harmonious heights, creating a climax simply with a volume increase. And then with what is clearly a middle finger to now-losers Guillemots, Tunng created “Santiago.” They infused Guillemots’ waning sound with handclaps and Sunday-afternoon vocals to create pop that transcends the boundaries of verse-chorus-verse. Small changes for big results; Tunng are remarkable because it seems like they aren’t.
The folktronica genre is one of strange contradiction. And it’s also a term that scares people, but here it’s impact is so second nature that you don’t realize a nice soft-rock jam like “Sashimi” is anything other than normal radio fare. That means Tunng is doing their job, because folk is far from a But-the-Kitchen-Sink genre. Every weird instrument (sea shells?!, bird cages?!) is so completely integrated into a song’s overarching, happy-go-lucky melody that you never even think to pick out the oddities. Instead you just light up a room with your smile. For instance: “Hey Barry, did you get laid or something?” “No, Rick. I was listening to …And Then We Saw Land, and now I can’t stop smiling!”
No, you don’t need a handjob, Barry. You just need Tunng.
Recommended If You Like: Guillemots, I'm From Barcelona, Noah and the Whale
You guys should think about importing a lala player similar to paste or pitchfork to make it easier to listen to the album right away. and people here will like it because it scrobbles plays to a last.fm account
You guys should think about importing a lala player similar to paste or pitchfork to make it easier to listen to the album right away. and people here will like it because it scrobbles plays to a last.fm account
tis a good idea. i'd be surprised if mr. tate isn't working on something like that as we speak
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