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Gadadu: Outer Song
ByIn short, the group is much more reminiscent of Stereolab (Selin's voice and melody lines definitely evoke Lætitia Sadier) than more openly jazz-affiliated groups like Steely Dan. Outer Song is all about lush, sometimes busy arrangements, rising chord progressions, and lyrics so oblique they're more about enhancing your mood than communicating. ("A speckled world, droughted thirsty for her rain/Married not to my disdain" certainly works better as sound than sense.) Don't worry the production surrounds Selin with so many layers that it's hard to make out what she's saying anyway.
The good news is that if you're willing to submit to the dream-pop spell, Gadadu's melodies are memorable and their arrangements pleasingly seductive. The songs change gears often, but though the transitions are occasionally a bit abrupt, momentum carries the day and the listener slips down the sound-stream untroubled by the band's more baroque impulses. All in all, Outer Song is an extremely likeable albumGadadu knows what it's trying to do and gets ninety-percent of the way there. (Clearer production would helpthings get a bit muffled when the layers pile up.) If you're ready for a bit of uplift and melody in your life, and like the idea of acoustic instruments doing much of the heavy up-lifting, you'll likely enjoy Gadadu's Outer Song. It's in frequent rotation 'round these parts, despite the cavils above.
Track Listing
The Lion; Exquisite Corpse; Julia; Life; Makeshift Constellations; Chided; Train Blues; Bay Songs.
Personnel
Hannah Selin: voice, Viola; Nicki Adams: keys, synths; Pat Adams: trumpet; Ayumi Ishito: tenor sax; Dan Stein: bass; Arthur Vint: drums.
Album information
Title: Outer Song | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Birdwatcher Records
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