COUCH
Fantasy (Matador Records)
Reviewed by Holly Day

---

It's almost impossible to listen to this band and not think of Stereolab, or Trans Am, because they fall somewhere in between both - smooth, guitar and keyboard-laden instrumentals with retro techno aspects, set to a repetitive, almost cold percussion that pushes the music along like the mechanical typewriter return-key samples that keep popping up throughout the album. The sound is deceiving, though, because while it sounds like electronic music, especially where the rhythm section is concerned, this is really a rock ensemble that utilizes the standard guitar-bass-drum lineup with only some minimal keyboard thrown in for flavor. This is awfully nice music to play as background music for naps on the couch.

© 2001 - Holly Day