Album Review: Life in a Blender~ Homewrecker Spoon
Album Review: Life in a Blender~ Homewrecker Spoon
Life in a Blender
Homewrecker Spoon CD
Fang Records
The newest release by Life in a Blender, Homewrecker Spoon, is a bit out-of-step from what Sepiachord normally reviews.
Instead of featuring elements of pre-modern music, Don Ralph and his crew transport the listener back to a mystical time know as the 1980s. I guess that’s not too surprising given that the band has been at this for 25(!) years, but there’s no escaping the clean, upbeat, sharply produced songs on this CD that evoke that era’s effervescent pop.
Listening to the track “The Juiciest Plum” there’s no avoiding the beautiful pop-shimmer of this number. And the horns! Oh man the horns! I’m a sucker for a good horn section and the numbers that feature the Colony Collapse Horns do not disappoint (in addition to “The Juiciest Plum”, “The Answer” and “Sean Connery” are resplendent with fine horn work).
There are vintage elements on Homewrecker Spoon (banjo, mandolin, cello and violin) constantly popping up and the tune “The Rain Makes Me Thirsty” would fit nicely on any collection of Sepiachord music, but overall the feel is one of mutant, vintage minded, new-wave… like a band one could expect to have seen opening for Joe Jackson back when he was performing Nigh and Day.
And there’s just *something* about Don Ralph’s voice. It’s distinct, rich and somehow manages to sound natural and slightly forced at the same time. There’s no mistaking it.
Damn fine stuff.
Life in a Blender
http://lifeinablender.net/
Fang Records