3 Comments Written by Ed Servoice on December 4, 2008 – 7:56 pm

Artist: The Dodos

Album: Visiter

Rating: 8.6/10

Similar Artists: Animal Collective, Arkon/Family, Yeasayer

Genre: Psychedelic Folk, Indie-pop

Link: www.myspace.com/thedodos

This is one of those reviews that I had to write because, well, I just love this gosh-darn album a whole bunch and think everyone else should know about it, hear it, and dig it as much as I do.

Described on their Myspace as ‘happy hardcore’, Dodos guitarist Mark Long and drummer Logan Kroeber hail from eclectic musical backgrounds. Influences such as metal and hardcore are incorporated into the album somehow coming out with glorious, organic and rollicking psychedelic folk music. Using mainly a de-tuned acoustic guitar and frantic afro style drum beats, the Dodos create their unique take on the psy-folk genre with a spontaneous, diverse and totally cohesive album. An album (to use the oh so often repeated phrase) ‘to be listened to in its entirety from start to finish’…in the wee hours of the morning… while twistedley drunk.

Like a good acid trip, Visiter starts off slowly, cautiously and surprisingly follows with intense peaks and stark, barren yet pulsating troughs. Songs like ‘Joe’s Waltz’, ‘Winter’, ‘Jodi’ and ‘God?’ exemplify this beautifully, taking the listener through the song like a sonic adventure guided by the striking and poignant lyrics penned by Long. ‘Winter’ tells the story of a break up in insightful yet almost irreverent style;

‘Goodnight my love, you seemed so nice ’til I knew you better / Now I can tell you’re always thinking twice about what might be better / On the outside, there’s no conscience, you’re a victim of your cautiousness / You don’t try, you just lie there hoping that someone will come to make it right…’

Hot damn, that man can write lyrics…

Anyway, get this album. Or at least listen to their songs. These boys define their genre, resetting the sights even higher for this here folk revival and, well, I’m chuffed to be witness to it all.

P.S: The Dodos coming all the way from California to play for us at the Northcote Social Club on the 6th of January, tickets are only $30! I’m going, come along and party with some of the WMSG crew!