Deltoro
"Ashtray Yoga" CD
Datawaslost
Recordings
Genres: indie rock, indie pop, lo-fi
Datawaslost Recordings
P.O. Box 19401
Cincinnati, OH 45219
June 17 - 23 2002 |
After their brief track on datawaslost's
"Building" compilation, I have been deeply anticipating Deltoro's first album.
Well, well - guess what showed up in the ol' PO Box recently? Why,
"Ashtray Yoga"! That's right, nineteen tracks of pure Deltoro for me to
sink my teeth into! But did it live up to my insanely high expectations? Yes.
Completely. Unquestionably. "Ashtray Yoga" is, without doubt,
one of datawaslost's best releases thus far. Blasting forth with lo-fi recording
ethics and abnormal minor-key melodies, this album is both weird and catchy.
"Black Keys", for example, is a seemingly light-hearted tune, but it has an
inexplicable eerieness to it that darkens its atmosphere. Meanwhile, "I'm No
Angel" is like a vinegar-drenched folk song - it feels like a jolly sing-a-long, but
the minor-key guitar chords lend it a touch of "musical acidity". As one
of the album's best tracks, it's no wonder there's another version of it later on in the
cd.
One of the most notable things about Deltoro's style is the feeling of grandeur
it harbors. Every song fills the room like an orchestra of experimental pop, yet
still manages to be very cozy and personal. This is especially evident on
"Insert", a creepy, chaotic piece of abrasive pop that feels like a barrage of
rocks hitting you, yet still manages to be undeniably pleasant.
So, if you're up to something bizarre, yet catchy; something grand, yet personal;
something acidic, yet folky - well, then this is exactly the album you'll want to be
listening to. Does Deltoro seem like a band of contradictions? Well, perhaps
it is, but who cares? Because there's one thing about them that will never be
contradicted - that they're dang good. So go out and get "Ashtray Yoga"!
NOW!
93%
Matt Shimmer |