ARAB STRAP
The Red Thread (Matador)
Reviewed by Jason Thornberry

---

Redefining minimalism, and/or miserablism, Falkirk Scotland's Arab Strap follow up their recent live album ("Mad For Sadness") with a better recording using their usual cheap-o drum machines that sound quite like they're sampled from my grandma's organ. That's actually a compliment, because the, vintage, lo-budget quality puts them officially in GBV land (Guided By Voices), and that's seldom a bad place to be. The sluggish, bleary-eyed tempos approach NYC's sadly departed Swans, but Arab Strap have proven to be a more tuneful predecessor. Swans' Michael Gira and Strap's Aidan Moffat both sound as though they spent the past year in bed, but Arab Strap seem to feel a bit more comfortable around pop music than the Swans ever got (including 1987's fantastic Children of God).

The die hard ‘Strap fan is probably close enough to the music not to notice that this is a wee bit darker than 1998's Philophobia or Elephant Shoe (2000). A warmer recording this time brings their swollen eyes in line with the 00s.

What is ever to be expected of these Scottish rogues? Lighters-aloft love ballads? Bombast? Joy? They do a fantastic, sobbing, beery ballad, but it usually comes across as far too real, too actual to ever get covered by Ricky Martin.

Take the passionate audio discharge of "Discharge," slow waaay down, turn those buzzing guitars into "The Last Piano on Earth" and make the brazen cries of "Why!?!" into stuttered, drunken mutterings. "Wha?" Now you're almost there. An album that's too good to be quickly summed up. You'll get different things from this almost every time you hear it. Your overall state of mind is crucial. Great album. Definitely.

© 2001 - Jason Thornberry