Album, Single and EP Reviews


 

 

  Why Even Bother? by Tafra


Why Even Bother? cover art

Artist: Tafra
Title: Why Even Bother?
Catalogue Number: Series Two Records #5
Review Format: CD
Release Year: 2008



Oh, the title of this album doesn't bode well. More sub Morrissey ramblings might be on the menu? Fortunately not, as Tafra's album is more a cross between The Pastels and Squeeze.

The vocals stay firmly on the laconic side of the street but like the mighty Squeeze the charm is in the lyrics that provide a neatly understated commentary of life in a bedsit full of cardigans and furry mementoes of past loves. Cheap and cheesy drum machines are to be found, of course, as this is at the twee end of the indie pop spectrum but not too twee thankfully and there is no mention made of rodents anywhere. However, there's some delightfully oblique commentary on relationships in "Why Did You Have To Be So Complicated Baby" that is packaged with all the drama that the budget allowed. Looking at the album as a whole, it actually turned out to be quite charming.

Never would have guessed that Tafra was from Sweden either but then again that is what London does to a man.

 


www.myspace.com/tafra
Reviewer:
Review Date: April 25 2009