nosmiles's Music Page / Album Reviews

Elephant - Pele

Rating: 8.5/10
All Music Guide says:
  • Elephant offers just enough low-fi sonic dust to seem punkish, but make no mistake, it is precisely played and elegantly constructed.
  • But at some point, Rosenau runs out of ideas and to bridge the gap relies on repetition and force. With only seven songs barely topping out at 40 minutes total, perhaps an EP-length program would have been a better choice.

    nosmiles disagrees: The former statement is true. However, in reference to the latter, what could be considered repetition, I found to be unique and stimulating, not dull and boring.

    Pele is pretty. Pretty guitars, pretty sounds, pretty music. Because Pele is an instrumental band, the lack of vocals makes their sound even stronger and you can feel the passion they put into their playing. Although it is difficult to distinguish songs from songs and albums from albums, when listening they are excellently executed and in exquisite form.

    Best Aspect: Pretty
    Worst Aspect: The songs are a tad too similar
    Yay: Pickled Pear, Gymnastics (Pam)
    Nay: None
    The hits: None
    Similar: The Promise Ring, Joan of Arc
    Style: Instrumental Rock

  • Track List

    1. Gymnastics (Pam)
    2. Pickled Pear
    3. A Scuttled Bender in a Watery Closet
    4. Egg
    5. Nighttime Stomach
    6. Little Hunts
    7. Linear Clocks and Daughters