A Sunshine Fix - The Future History of a Sunshine Fix EP
(Kindercore)
Soundtrack music? For imaginary cartoons? While working together in the
Olivia Tremor Control, Bill Doss and Will Cullen Hart made some interesting
music, taking Beatles and Brian Wilson inspired pop and pulling it like taffy
until it fit the mold of 70s progress rock soundscapes from bands like Yes
and Pink Floyd. Now that the band has parted ways, Doss has released this
15 minute solo EP under the name A Sunshine Fix. Without Hart to press
the experimentation, Doss sounds average, presenting simple 60s inspired pop
songs in several different styles.
The EP, The Future Sound of a Sunshine Fix, starts off with its best song,
"The Sounds Around You," which sounds like what Pink Floyd would sound like
with a trumpet and Talking Book-era Stevie Wonder supplying the bassline.
However, the next song, "The Many Keys to Reunion," is a pure failure, using
run of the mill drum & bass sounds along with a reoccurring 9 note
toy piano melody.
The next song, "Last Night I Had a Dream," is a re-recording of a song off
A Sunshine Fix 7" from earlier this year and also just doesn't work.
The song is an attempt at bubbly country but comes off like camp, similar
to a They Might Be Giants hoedown. Perhaps Doss is not against going camp
though, as evidenced by his contribution to the Powerpuff Girls soundtrack,
but I for one didn't think that would permeate into his normal releases.
Also re-recorded from that 7" is "Beaconary Words" which uses a
galloping, country beat and twangy, tangy guitars. It is a very simple
song, but it isn't as offensive as "Last Night..."
Between the two songs from the 7" is "Future History and the
Irrelevance of Time" which sounds like something off the latest solo album
from a 90s Brit pop frontman superstar. The song uses echoed, prissy
vocals with string interludes and the slow, steady pounding of a piano.
With this EP, diehard fans of the Olivia Tremor Control may lose any
hope of Doss being able to create worthwhile songs on his own. While
it does have some failed experiments, "The Sounds Around You" and
to a lesser extent "Future History..." may be enough to warrant
keeping some hope alive.
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