Frog Eyes
The Golden River

THE REVIEW

Strange reality these "Frog Eyes": 4 members guitar-bass-drums-keyboards, with 3 albums and several EPs, collaborations with Destroyer, Wolf Parade, and other representatives of the Canadian indie scene.

Their distinctive feature lies in the uniqueness of the voice of the frontman Carey Mercer, which is essentially that of David Bowie imitating David Sylvian, but which immediately gives way to an agitated street preacher from a slightly acid cabaret. Even his way of using it, this blessed voice, is out of the usual schemes: neurotic, declamatory, with sudden incursions into falsetto, yet warm, never psychotic, never annoyingly querulous like some "mannered" indie music has accustomed us to hear (any reference to those clapping hands and saying "yeah!" is purely coincidental).

Built on the use of guitar parts opened by piano melodies, "extemporaneous" drums, and a certain linearity of movement that manages to fit perfectly with the total obliqueness of the singing, the music always remains intense and captures the listener's attention, launching them into an "other" world to let themselves go. This is not music aimed at entertainment, not in the way we are accustomed to, but it sneaks into the consciousness from the first listen, even though it is initially difficult. Undoubtedly, the approach to this album allows for few distractions, as the whole is anything but background music. It is difficult to navigate through the cryptic lyrics that evoke a fantastic imagery made of escape and disorientation, often delivered in a paroxysmal stream of consciousness.

This album was released in 2003, but was then reissued in 2006, enriched with material: a quick listening map to frame the work includes the opening "One In Six Children Will Flee In Boat", "Time Destroys Its Plan At The Reactionary Table", "Miasma Gardens", "A Latex Ice Age".