Codeine
Barely Real

Languid, narcotic, melancholic, impressionistic rock... these and other labels have been regularly used to brand the productions of the Chicago trio. On one hand, belonging to Sub Pop, known for releasing entirely different material, may lead to misdirection, but the name leaves no room for error: the image of slo-mo to slow down the traditional rhythms of rock is not a metaphor but a tangible reality of the experimentation and the codified genre that the band of John Engle, Chris Brokaw, Stephen Immerwald has de facto contributed to invent.

Partly precursors and partly prominent exponents of slo-core, Codeine knows how to create guitar textures that are first repetitive and hypnotic, then more melodic and accessible, which interlace within a harmonic structure of bass and drums that somehow, through the power of sound, highlights their contours and delicacy by contrast. This is their expressive module, which in "Frigid Stars" perhaps found its highest artistic realization, while in the second full-length "The White Birch," it was burdened by some overly classicist aspirations.

This mini album, "barely real," finds itself in between: the shadow of the debuting Swans is always cast upon the stage of every performance of the American trio, the vague, almost self-ironic nod to noise-melodic à la Dinosaur Jr, eccentricities, and especially blurred margins of identity. It seems that in the absence of a precise identity core, the most essential meaning of Codeine's works is concentrated.

"Barely Real" is an intermediary episode between the aforementioned two albums: the single "Realize", more melodic and open than usual, might recall the neoclassical beauty of "D", between Nick Drake and J(oseph) Mascis, while the more experimental side (vide supra) is documented by "W" (a piano sonata in the style of Debussy) and "Jr": chamber arrangements that fit well within the confined context of the mini album in question.

It is suggested to start with "Frigid Stars" or from here instead of from The White Birch: too heavily enriched with ideas might drive away the novice.

.:Takk:. n.4