Here's a charming little album from a band I've never had the pleasure of experiencing before, Finland's Underwater Sleeping Society and their latest for Svart Records, Instrumental Healthcare. Now, seeing as they are on Svart Records, that should instantly clue you in that you'll be in store for something far off the beaten path, and that is indeed the case with the band's penchant for breezy pop, melancholy, and the odd touch of hard rock & prog. Instrumental Healthcare is the band's fourth album, and it comes eight years after 2008's Dead Vegas. With hints of Nick Drake, early U2, Roxy Music, and The Flaming Lips, USS rely on sweeping melodies steeped in a quirky sheen, the lush instrumentation (guitars, keyboards, drums, bass) providing the framework for layers of lead & backing vocals. Great pop music is meant to be memorable and engaging, and much of the material here falls right in line with that way of thinking, with tunes like "Hexagon Eyes", "Origo", and "On A Vitamine Strut " providing for some highly enjoyable moments. "Bow & Arrow" soars, "The Last Door" rocks a bit, and "Catnip Love" sways with irresistible charm, and these are just three more examples of the exquisite nature of Instrumental Healthcare.
Lots to recommend here on Instrumental Healthcare, an honest to goodness pop album that doesn't rely on gimmicks, trends, or shock value to get its message across. In a perfect world an album like this would sell millions, but seeing as we know that's not happening, make sure you don't miss this one, and tell all your friends about it while you are at it.
Track Listing
01 - A Ghost In The Room
02 - Tomorrow's Yesterday
03 - Hexagon Eyes
04 - On A Vitamine Strut
05 - Origo
06 - Big Fish Don't Know
07 - Complete, Compass
08 - Bow & Arrow
09 - The Last Door
10 - Catnip Love
11 - Chemical Trails
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