Pallin - Far From Yokohama
(URU World)
Pallin is instrumental orchestral pop from Sweden that will appeal to fans of L'Altra, 33.3, and Halifax Pier. Somewhat similar to 33.3, with Pallin's transition from first album to second—their new release Far From Yokohama—they also add two new members to fill out the sound, adding trumpet and drums to guitar and cello. And "fill out" fully defines the roles of the new members; most songs focus on the interplay between the guitar and cello, the light drumwork there merely for stability, and the spare use of trumpet there merely for a little extra warmth. The interplay between founding members Soderstroem and Hoergen is enough to make most of these songs interesting, though. "Brooktrickle Creek" mixes a banjo-like rapid guitar part with moans and sweeps from the cello to create a pleasing, high-spirited melody. On "Bright Moments," the cello takes the lead, creating a wispy melody suitable for a midafternoon daydream on a grassy knoll. Pallin are certainly skilled musicians with a good ear for melody, and their combination of cello and guitar is fertile and natural. There's little bad to be said about Pallin, however this album still fails to pull me in. Perhaps it's because the only emotion it conjurs is a contented smile. Hopefully now that the band's lineup is set, they can continue on and aim for a grander scale and a richer, fuller spectrum.
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