From somewhere in the north-west fringe of Melbourne City emanates the wild and completely unbridled electronica of Apell. While bridled horses run rings around the racecourse nearby, Apell wanders freely through post-rock psychedelia, guitar-tinged electronica, noise, and anything else that catches his fancy.
His second album Beaver Street & Beyond opens excellently with the trippy Entertainment Complex, featuring electrolysed organ, trumpets, and saxophone. The opening could be something Danny Elfman would have written for a band; the weirdness factor is right at home with Beetlejuice.
"wild and completely unbridled electronica of Apell."
A couple of notches down the track list is the intoxicating post-rocker Tim & Tony. Slowly unfurling in a chorus of electric and acoustic guitar, I can only imagine it as the theme to a film about two guys with the titular names. Summer then relaxes the mood and evokes a lazy, hot summer's day. Apell is at his best in these tracks, reminding me of Mogwai and their brilliant 1997 album Young Team.
"reminding me of Mogwai and their brilliant 1997 album Young Team."
With Exciting Soul Cock Of The Stirring North, it is safe to say that Apell has invented the latest sub-genre of syncopated Scottish flamenco. With the most rockin' beat, it ends the album on a high note before the low-fi epilogue of Crying Over A Cut Onion.
Not all of the other tracks meld so well in the context of an album. Featuring some experimentally (read 'intentionally') messy production, tracks such as Tomorrow, Wrinkle, and Spokes Remix are fine by themselves, but seem to pull in their own directions.
If you start your journey at Beaver Street, there is no telling where Apell might take you. - www.inthemix.com.au |
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