Mice Parade - Obrigado Saudade

  by Chris Jones

published: 28 / 10 / 2003

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The Mice Parade is the solo project of Adam Pierce, who was in the Swirlies, plays drums in the Dylan Group, and runs the Bubble Core label.  As it utilises everything from drums to vibraphones to guitars to chinese harps, it wouldn't be incorrect to call the music of the Mice Parade post-rock / electronica , but that may be too simple. The range of sounds on 'Obrigado Saudade' makes listening to this album a very active process.  It's not the kind of album that is going to hide in the background as you read a book or tidy up your room.  This is due in a large part to the drums. The album is full of skittering beats that are both disjointed and fluid in a way that programmed drums just can't seem to capture. The drums provide a perfect foundation upon which layers of other instruments, sounds, and vocals are added. The vocals on the opening track are provided by Kristin Anna Valtysdottir of Mum and her breathy, childlike voice along with the intricate yet soft guitar gives the song a dreamy but not sleepy quality.  This is followed by the nearly 11 minute long 'Mystery Brethren' which transitions from frantic to smooth, acoustic to electric effortlessly.  In fact, effortless can be used to sum up much of this album - the mix of influences, instruments, and tempos is quite diverse, yet none of it feels forced.  Sounds come in from nowhere and feel right at place and then disappear without taking anything away from the songs.  The fact that Pierce is able to do this over the course of an entire album is testament to his understanding of arrangement. 'Obrigado Saudade' encompasses the best elements of post-rock / electronica without rehashing them.  The instrumentation is lush, the structures are multi-faceted, and yet it all sounds very natural.  Over the course of 4 albums, a number of people have collaborated with Pierce both in the studio and for live shows (Doug Scharin, Dylan Cristy, Aki Tsuyuko, Jim O'Rourke), but the Mice Parade continues to be very much Adam Pierce.

Track Listing:-

1 Two, Three, Fall
2 Mystery Brethren
3 Focus on the Roller Coaster
4 And Still It Sits In Front of You
5 Wave Greeting
6 Here Today
7 Milton Road
8 Spain
9 Out of the Freedom World
10 Guitars for Plants
11 Refrain Tomorrow

Label Links:-

http://www.fat-cat.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/FatCatRecords
http://fatcat-records.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/fatcatrecords
https://twitter.com/FatCatRecords

Have a Listen:-

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