Oppenheimer - Look Up
by Russell Ferguson
published: 7 / 6 / 2008
Label:
Fantastic Plastic Records
Format: 7"
intro
Adventurous vinyl only single from experimental Belfast synthesiser duo, who sound like an electronic Weezer
Oppenheimer are fans of synthesisers, kraut-rock and soundscapes. From this description they sound like Boards Of Canada copyists, but thankfully they are not. This Northern Irish duo, Shaun Robinson and Rocky O’Reilly, have more in common with power popsters Weezer than anything else. Shaun Robinson's vocals on this song sound so similar to River Cuomo that you have to remind yourself that you are not listening to Weezer with keyboards. The whole song has such a light feel to it that it’s easy to imagine the video to ‘Look Up’ being set in a high school in America. It has that 60’s harmony thing going on which on this record works well,so credit goes to these two boys for trying to do something that isn’t easy to carry off. The B-side, ‘The Never Never', is completely schizophrenic. It starts with a much harder sound and has distorted vocals from Shaun that rides directly behind Nine Inch Nails. Then it changes to a harmony that is much lighter in texture for the chorus. It alternates between the two and keeps wrong footing you. It truth it doesn’t work that well. Just as you pick up on what is going on it changes its mind. It’s a bit like having a girlfreind or boyfriend who is having a bad day and you're not sure what is coming next, but there is nothing wrong with trying something new, even if you only pull if off with limited success.
Track Listing:-
1 Look Up2 The Never Never
Label Links:-
http://www.fpmusic.org/most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart