Caribou - Our Love
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Image courtesy of oystermag.com
Once or twice a year, a song comes along which I affectionately refer to as a “Lose Your Licence Song”. Without totally implicating myself (hi mum!), the concept is simple… You’re driving, and a song comes on the radio. It’s so good, you crank up the volume and without realising it, your speed as well. For a few blissfully blurry minutes you and the song are one, and you’re completely unaware of how fast you’re travelling (hence the likelihood of receiving a letter from VicRoads several weeks later).
This year, that somewhat dubious honour goes to Caribou’s “Can’t Do Without You”. Elegant in its simplicity, the song has virtually no lyrics aside from the title, and is an exercise in building tension through repetition and layering. By the time the song reaches its euphoric pinnacle and then drops back to reveal the fragile, layered vocals, which fade the song out, you’re hooked.
This year, that somewhat dubious honour goes to Caribou’s “Can’t Do Without You”. Elegant in its simplicity, the song has virtually no lyrics aside from the title, and is an exercise in building tension through repetition and layering. By the time the song reaches its euphoric pinnacle and then drops back to reveal the fragile, layered vocals, which fade the song out, you’re hooked.
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“Can’t Do Without You” was released in June and for fans of Dan Snaith’s work under this particular moniker (he also writes as Daphni), it was a long wait for album number 4, Our Love, which was released earlier this month.
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“Can’t Do Without You” opens the album and sets the tone for the 9 stunning tracks which follow. “Silver” sounds like summer; woozy, beautiful, heady electronica, with Snaith’s falsetto vocals wafting gently over the top. “All I Need” steps it up with one of the most funky house beats I’ve heard this year, and in a typical Snaith move, there are moments of light and shade throughout.
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 Image courtesy of inthemix.com.au
Track 4 and the second single from the album, “Our Love” is an interesting one. The first time I heard it, I was somewhat disappointed that it didn’t have the immediate pull of “Can’t Do Without You”. But here is a song that rewards its listener by revealing itself more with each listen. Clearly this is Snaith’s mandate as I felt the same way about his last Caribou album, Swim. The more I heard it, the more I wanted to hear it.
On the surface, “Our Love” is a 90s acid house track, which makes me want to time travel back to The Hacienda – but it’s so much more than that; jumping effortlessly between lush strings and jazz fusion moments, and back to that hypnotic beat. Alongside “Can’t Do Without You”, it’s one of my favourite songs of 2014. |
“Second Chance” is the other standout on the album, with vocalist Jessy Lanza giving the wobbly synth-driven track a 90s R’n’B moment, reminiscent of Mariah Carey or Brandy. It’s an interesting combination – totally unexpected, but it works so well. It’s typical Caribou really. Rather than rely on formulae, Snaith is making some of the most interesting electronic music today, and in a sea of generic EDM, his music will stand the test of time.
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Our Love is a truly stunning album and to me, an instant classic. I look forward to it revealing itself more and more to me this summer and beyond… licence or no licence.
Phoebe Dubar Caribou will be appearing at St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2015. |
