Should - The Great Pretend

by Dave Goodwin

published: 5 / 5 / 2014

Label: Words On Music
Format: CD

Experimental and diverse fourth album from influential Austin, Texas-based trio, Should

Review

Austin, Texas gave birth to Should and their debut six song CD-EP on the city's own ND label, 1995's 'A Folding Sieve' is a shining landmark of the 1990's American shoegazer scene. It received its share of critical acclaim. Before Should Marc Ostermeier was writing, recording, and performing under the name shiFt but, after hearing Lilys In the Presence of Nothing on Slumberland, formed Should together with Tanya Maus and his brother Eric. To get technical the unique sound of their first recordings sprang from their unorthodox songwriting and recording technique. Songs were built around guitar phrases recorded onto cassette that were then sampled and looped using an Ensoniq EPS sampler. An overloaded 4-channel mixer was the primary source of distortion. The Ostermeiers' Words On Music released Should's first full length CD, 'Feed Like Fishes', in late 1998. In 2002 Words On Music re-released 'A Folding Sieve', which added to the original six songs another eight tracks. In December 2010 Should finished recording their third album, 'Like a Fire Without Sound', which was released in April 2011 also on Words On Music. The beginning of 2014 saw the release of a new album, 'The Great Pretend', which was preceded by the three-song digital single, 'Down a Notch'. 'The Great Offering' carries on in a shoegazing vein whilst showing a little more of the trio's creativeness. There are some hidden deviations in it which build on from the sound of the previous three albums. They kick off with Krautpop/rock opener 'Don't Send Me Your Regrets'. The eclectic sound on this disc is instantly uncovered by the pop feel of second track 'Loveless Devotion' which features humming bee-like guitars. There are also orchestrated vibes and big drums on 'Mistakes are Mine'. There is a return to Should's early sound on 'Dalliance', and the whole album ends with 'Don't Get to Know Me' which concludes the album with both piano and an orchestra. 'The Great Pretend' has some surprising but welcome twists, and upon it both revisit past days and stride forward into unchartered lands. It is extremely well-structured and an excellent fourth album.

Track Listing:-

1 Don't Send Me Your Regrets
2 Loveless Devotion
3 Mistakes Are Mine
4 In Monotone
5 Down a Notch
6 Everybody Knows
7 Dalliance
8 A Lonely Place
9 Amends
10 Gold Stars
11 Don't Get To Know Me