Vs.Children
Isaac Parnell Filed Under: Labels: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, CTFPA, isaac, Vs. Children
There's nothing like a bit of uplifting summer music, on a sunny Sunday afternoon, as we see the first signs of the summer months to come. Well this is nothing like uplifting Summer music...
As the fifth studio album from Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, we see the natural progression in quality of sound and use of live instruments continue. This latest album, is a far cry from his first, 'Answering Machine Music', in terms of the number of acoustic instruments used, and other musicians incorporated. However it delights me to see that he has managed to cling onto the most important element of the albums made over the previous decade, the beautifully simple song writing skills.
The blend of incredibly simple chord sequences, with heartfelt emotional lyrics, concerning everyday matters, that each and every one of us can sympathise with, has been a characteristic of CFTPA's music since the very early days. The track 'Man O' War' sees a welcome return to the old drum machines, and dirty, droning keyboards, that we are so familiar with when listening to Casiotone, as well as the enchanting unison of male and female vocals taking the lead.
In short, this album does everything I want a band to do, and what little bands seem to manage. Keep the simplicity and beauty that made the early albums so good, without getting stuck bringing out record after record of the same repetitive, material, which in time gets boring. If you are a Casiotone fan, then you'll more than likely have this album already. If you've never heard of them, then follow their progress of sound right from 'Answering Machine Music' through to 'Vs. Children', I guarantee it'll be the soundtrack to your Winter...
