The debut full-length CD from the "Brothers Tapes," as they call themselves, is a diverse yet consistent album. Filled with Pixies-influenced sing-a-long tunes, The Loon never delivers a sub-par track.
The lo-fi vocal sound that dominates most of the album resembles a garage band recording a demo with their mics set too hot. Yet, the production is far from amateur; the guitars on "The Illiad" suggest a wisp of Decemberists-like seafaring, while the piano and guitars of "Omaha" beautifully embrace crooning vocals.
However, don't mistake The Loon as a collection of quiet songs; the strung-out "In Houston" comes across as powefully claustrophobic, "Just Drums" is a peppy shouting contest, and "Insistor" begs listeners to join Tapes in taking out their aggression while shouting to 'Kelly.'
Yet, even taking into account the infectious vocals, the strongest segments of the album come from the instrumental sessions - the centerpiece "Crazy Eights" being a prime example of this, featuring one of the funniest attempts of trading fours ever recorded (assumedly a joke on the part of Tapes). Sleeper track "Manitoba" finishes with an intense instrumental buildup complete with screeching abstract noises over a manic melody. The album closes out with what is likely to be considered the best track of the CD, "Jakov's Suite," introduced by an equally intense instrumental session.
THE HAPS: The original Tapes 'n Tapes EP has already sold out all pressings; that is unlikely to happen with The Loon under their XL Recordings distribution deal, but I wouldn't take any chances.
