Crystal Antlers
Tentacles

THE REVIEW

And here it is, the band everyone is talking about in spring 2009, at their first full-length. And what do I, your faithful writer, think of it? I don't know! Hmm! Too synthetic? Should I elaborate? I can't produce anything more than a: "They say nothing to me," despite Psycho having invited everyone to keep an eye on them, reviewing their EP release this autumn. The invention supposedly lies in covering all that is knowable with big Farfisa-like keyboards. And so? It's not enough, it's not sufficient, and above all, it doesn't enchant. Because what is missing, is too much. Namely, the songwriting: to say it's lacking is an understatement. There's not a single song that left a mark on me, even after multiple listens.

First digression. Am I aging poorly for demanding some focus? Crystal Antlers throw everything they've picked up along the way into the mix, but haphazardly. A bit of prog, a bit of psychedelia, a bit of garage-punk, and maybe even a bit of p-funk. And the stew, since the ingredients aren't measured, proves to be indigestible. Over everything, the somewhat annoying voice of the singer, who is always straining his voice relentlessly.

Second. This is what we've been condemned to for some years now. The future doesn't seem rosy to me. Postmodernism is at a point of no return. As mentioned, we take a bit from here, a bit from there. Sometimes the assembly works, other times you wonder why to spend money on contemporary records. Because I, of the 21st century Vanilla Fudge, who have poorly digested what happened after and understood little of what happened before, really don't know what to do with them: I've always struggled to appreciate the originals...

Third, and most importantly. Yes, I bought it. The reason? It should be the last release in the catalog of Touch And Go Records. The Chicago label, in fact, has decided not to publish any more, given the current recession, new records, nor to distribute material from other labels such as Merge and Kill Rock Stars. It's pointless to remind you of the names of the bands that have recorded for these. It's pointless to underline that the '90s, for many American indie fans, were associated with Touch And Go as a guarantee of novelty and quality. It's pointless for me to offer any comment. I just want to emphasize that not always, what seems to be coincidences, are really such. As much as this "Tentacles" seems to celebrate a cul-de-sac of the alternative, one of our favorite record labels certifies it, by ceasing to deal with what's circulating in the air.