Sunday mornings aren’t the best times to do reviews. A man really needs some music with a bit of life in it to raise his spirits after a night on the lash. So did Sebastian Melmoth’s – aka Mandi Taylor and Elijah Van DeWilde - album “Insanity’s Insanity” get this old heart going?
This duo’s choice of name suggested that they just might. After all, an Oscar Wilde reference brings hope of wit and style. It didn’t take long for the disappointment to set in as song after song of downbeat vocals and laidback strumming induced a state or near apathy. Things started off well enough with fragile female harmonies punctuating the post Joy Division intensity of “Cellophane” but the ideas soon run out. Listening to the start of “My Japanese Obituary” – that opening guitar riff bears a strong similarity to Neal Hefti’s “Duel at Diablo”, by the way – briefly lifted my spirits but too soon the dirge returned. Having made it to the end however, there was a reward in the rather livelier plastic psych rock of “Jesus Was A Girl’s Name” (that one admittedly was strongly reminiscent of Clinker who apparently co-produced this album).
Truth be told, this album is a bit dull to listen to. There’s a lack of musical adventure and a – perhaps deliberate? – avoidance of dynamics. Deadpan vocals and repetitive chord sequences prevail and it was only the three espressos I had this morning that enabled me to stay the distance. So, I doubt this album will be the soundtrack to anyone’s revolution and perhaps its true purpose is to remind us of the consequences of repeatedly watching your Flight of the Conchords DVD box set.
Available as a free download.