Label: Nude
Release Date: 02/06/08
Rating:
Get Well Soon are largely formed by Konstantin Gropper, a multi-instrumentalist to rival Zach Condon. From the appearance of this album his talent seems to be so abundant that it flows like torrents, cramming idea after idea into tracks where most people would have but one. This can be seen in the way 'You/Aurora/You/Seaside' brings the dark Eastern European tinged horns and strings of Devotchka into the mix, a dramatic brass fueled nightmare, ominous vibes laid thick.
The third track, 'Christmas In Adventure Parks', sees a sudden swing into Pavement-type lazily strummed summer charms, a gentle swing of a melody. 'People Magazine Front Cover' used oscillating piano lines, layering sampled voices and violins over the top into a tottering pile reminiscent of overcast summer days. 'Help To Prevent Forest Fires' is a hushed ballad that seems to borrow Grandaddy's synths, an electronic burble of beauty.
Get Well Soon brings influences of Beirut and Sufjan Stevens to the party, orchestral loveliness dominating this record. The instruments are deployed brilliantly, from strings to horns to bells to synths to vox. It tessellates into intricate mosaics, varying the feel so that the same pattern is never repeated twice.
The brilliantly monikered 'I Sold My Hands For Food So Please Feed Me' mixes the lullaby plink plonks of a xylophone with pounding guitars and feedback, a hard outer core with a soft inside, tenderness hinted at in the heart of a beast. It is soon followed by a truly inspired cover of 'Born Slippy', turned into a repetitive dirge, glockenspiels and clattering drums combining it into a downbeat wonder. 'Witches! Witches! Rest Now In The Fire' is a woozy summer soundtrack, baritone vocals and a rolling beat.
The back cover of the CD gives a guarantee by the artist that he "tried my very best to make this music loveable". No need for the guarantee, this is special stuff. With a band name as awful as this the music does well to escape and carve its own path, enticing the listener down into enchanted grottos and magic caves, wonder and beauty resplendent in its stalactites and stalagmites.
James Lawrenson
Get Well Soon Official Site
Get Well Soon Myspace
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