Derrero - Comb The Breaks
by Andy Snowball
published: 28 / 3 / 2002

Label:
Sylem
Format: CD
intro
"Breezy" and "sunny", but not totally convincing second album from Welsh group with an Elephant 6 influence
Wales’s Derrero are clearly taking their cues from the likes of the bands in the Elephant 6 group. ‘Comb The Breaks’ is a breezy, sunny record taking in 30-odd years of American pop, all the while adding more modern twists and never sticking to a single genre or sound throughout an entire song. What does remain constant, though, are the lovely harmonies, with the same breathy vocal mannerisms of Elliot Smith, and gentle guitars overlaid by old fashioned-sounding effects. ‘Old Grey Skies’ is austere, with occasional drum machine activity, and ‘Ripple of Strength’ is a fine song interspersed with novelty handclap samples. ‘Damn I’m Gonna Tear It Up’ is almost Pavement-esque, except for the opening four bars, repeated occasionally, that sounds like a musical interlude in the Tweenies. I think it’s safe to assume that the song’s name is something of a joke. But the record is unconvincing. Derrero clearly play music for its own sake, for a love of all the things they’ve grown up listening to, so although the result here is good, it’s hardly spectacular. ‘Comb The Breaks’ offers nothing to grab hold of, it is just a diversion – listened to and then rapidly forgotten. Nothing here is adorable, it is merely a collection of influences bundled together without much panache. ‘Comb The Breaks’ is polite. It won’t change anybody’s life but it may cheer up a dull Sunday afternoon.
Track Listing:-
1 Intro2 Horizon
3 Old Grey Skies
4 Comb The Breaks
5 Ripple Of Strength
6 Lean On Me Comfort
7 Damn I'm Gonna Tear It Up
8 All Time Roy
9 Sound At The Rate It Fades
10 Zero Return
11 Dust Brings Depth
12 Sandbar
13 Telescopic Sights
most viewed articles
current edition
Pennyblackmusic - Writers and Photographers' Albums of the Year 2024Peter Perrett - In Dreams Begin Responsibilities Interview Part One
Man From Delmonte - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Pennyblackmusic - Book of the Year Award 2024
Johnnie Johnstone - Interview
Marianne Faithfull - Reflections
Laura Nyro - Profile
Johny Brown - Corpse Flower
Vinyl Stories - Vinyl 2024
most viewed reviews
current edition
Dorie Jackson - Stupid Says RunRingo Starr - Look Up
Beabadoobee - This is How The World Moves
Pixie Lott - Encino
Dusty Springfield - The BBC Sessions
Unthanks - In Winter
Joan Armatrading - How Did This Happen and What Does It Mean?
Rosie Lowe - Lover, Other
Oïmiakon - Comptoir Des Vanites
Emily Burns - Die Happy
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