Album review: Crocodiles – Sleep Forever
Crocodiles, a duo hailing from San Diego, are Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell. Last year the pair released their debut album ‘Summer of Hate’ which not only received a remarkable amount of critical acclaim (Rolling Stone magazine declared ‘Welcome to the art-punk renaissance’) but also secured them support slots for bands like Holy Fuck and The Horrors. Now they return with their second long player ‘Sleep Forever’.
Keeping to the same formula, ‘Sleep Forever’ has shades of The Velvet Underground and Primal Scream blended with the kind of fuzzy guitars favoured by the likes of shoegaze heavyweights The Jesus and Mary Chain. Added to the mix are lo-fi production, a disco beat that makes the whole thing danceable and, like the JAMC, gorgeous pop melodies poking their head up through the fuzz and feedback all working in unison to reel you in. The result is astonishing.
‘Sleep Forever’ kicks off with slow burner ‘Mirrors’ with just over minute before drums and guitars kick in and the song explodes into hook ridden loveliness. Elsewhere amongst the eight tracks you’ll find the dream-like ‘Girl in Black’, a welcome respite from the relentless guitars, ‘Hollow Hollow Eyes’ my favourite track on the album and ‘All My Hate and Hexes Are For You’ which though a little repetitive is a shoo-in for the prize for best song title 2010.
If I had one issue it would be that there’s nothing really new here, they do sound similar to JAMC but as they aren’t making any new records anymore there’s a void which Crocodiles are more than capable of filling. Besides when all is said and done this is a cracking album brimming with great tunes and that’s all that really matters! 4/5
Mark Cousens
Out 13th September on Fat Possom Records
www.myspace.com/crocodilescrocodilescrocodiles
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