Thursday, April 15, 2010

Record Review: Freelance Whales - Weathervanes


Wrote this one in a plane on my way to New York last month. Can you tell?

For Tiny Mix Tapes:

Freelance Whales
Weathervanes

Frenchkiss

At 35,000 feet, a first real listen of Freelance Whales’ debut LP seems scarily appropriate. The tops of clouds and glimpses of the coastline below act as visual echoes of Judah Dadone’s gentle vocal style, of the intricate orchestration and laptop rhythms the multi-instrumental quintet has to offer throughout Weathervanes. Prevailing winds even affect an airplane as much as they power the device after which Freelance Whales named the album. Sensually, the only reason the experience of the record doesn’t fit the journey of an hour-and-a-half flight is that, for someone afraid of flying like I am, Weathervanes lacks the adrenaline edge felt at takeoff and landing. It’s beautiful but a little impotent, kinetic but decidedly de-clawed...[Read more]


2 comments:

Unknown said...

I just got this album the other day (for free), and if it wasn't for Owl City dominating the "Postal Service rip-off" label right now, Freelance Whales certainly would be. Still kinda enjoyed a couple of songs though...

Julia R said...

Yeah, they're totally catchy! It's annoying, but I get the worst song on the album, "Hannah," stuck in my head CONSTANTLY. Still. I haven't listened to it in weeks.