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DOUGLAS ARMOUR “A gigantic chunk of unashamed indie-pop and reminds me of the glory days (mid 90s) when you could go out and grab “Shimmering, sophisticated pop.” - Panpot And now for something different… Fulfilling the promise of his impeccable entry in our 7-inch series, The Social Club, is The Light Of A Golden Day, The Arms Of The Night -- the debut LP from Los Angeles located Douglas Armour. This album finds the artist expertly blending tons of our favorite poptones from days past to create a hyper-literate pastiche that’s equal parts nostalgia and forward-thinking. Echoing its title, the LP has a structure that plays off binary oppositions to create one of the most varied pop albums we’ve heard in a long time. The first movement is defined by crunchy, danceable (honest to god) house beats that provide a sonic bedrock for the lush bubblegum harmonies that Armour never lets us down with. Tight basslines merge with drum machines and are colored with cloudy synthesizer passages and crystal-clear guitar lines to perfectly compliment the vocal melodies. ‘Fall Apart Again’ is reminiscent of a West Coast version of Hot Chip – even breezier and sunnier with less irony and more hooks. ‘Trembling, On the Verge’ adds to the formula by going back even further and ending up sounding like Hall & Oats on their best day with access to today’s equipment. The chorus that kicks in halfway through is so bouncy we could see it driving even the most reserved of listeners to the dancefloor. The second movement finds Armour in a more reflective state-of-mind with gritty electronics swapped for warm Wurlitzer tones, shimmering Southern Cali guitars and a subtle yet effective alt-country slant that provides a stunning contrast to the record’s first half. ‘As Bright as the Stars’ is a little bit folk and the hook is so poppy it will burn itself in the listener’s brain for days. We have yet to meet anyone that has a complaint about ‘Prince of Wands’ – a carryover from Armour’s 7-inch that features tight guitar interplay coupled with an irresistibly infectious chorus. It’s easy to see why this track has been a DJ staple in New York for almost a year now. And, finally, The Light Of A Golden Day, The Arms Of The Night concludes with ‘The Mystery, It Never Lasts’ a finely crafted acoustic closer that finds the singer repeatedly calling out for Los Angeles in beautiful, angelic harmonies that bring to mind the mid-career work of Elliott Smith. Armour proves that writing a perfect pop song might be the most experimental thing an artist can do in today’s underground music climate. Great lyrics, tight arrangements and lush instrumentation allow the songwriter to play with genre expectations on his own terms, creating a blended concoction that feels like an old friend has come to visit and the bond is new again. |
Catalog Number: TSR051 Tracklisting: VISIT DOUGLAS All Tracks Listed In Blue Are Linked To A Downloadable MP3 |