published: 1 /
12 /
2007
Label:
Friendly Noise
Format: CD
Fine summery-sounding but also melancholic indie pop on first album from new English/Swedish duo, the Dreamers
Review
The Dreamers are an English/Swedish band who blew me away when I saw them play their first ever gig supporting Harvey Williams earlier this year. This album is full of summery charm and is undoubtedly one of the best albums of the year.
It opens with 'One Day in the Woods' which sung by Sarah Nyberg Pergament is a song about youth and what it is like to be young and carefree, and has a lovely warm feel that is reminiscent of Broadcast with some gorgeous acoustic guitar to assist.
'Day for Night', the title track, is also the title of a 1973 film by Francois Truffant. It has a cool feel, sounds a bit like Sade, but, French in feel , is sung by Kevin Wright, the English member of the band, with a late night kind of calm.
'Petit Nuage' is actually sung in French by Sarah. As continental as coffee, it has haunting instrumental backing that sound like the soundtrack to a 50's sci-fi film. 'Piccadilly Night Bus' is a very lonely sounding song, sung by Kevin in a rainy day manner, and who recalls both Stuart Staples from Tindersticks and Neil Hannon from the Divine Comedy in his delivery.
'A Place I Know' is sung by Sarah, has some softly strummed guitar and again sounds very French in its feel. 'So Near, So Far' , which has a vocal from Kevin, has an easy-on-the-ear European gentleness to it. Sarah joins him on backing vocals.
'Michael' was dictated to anyone called Michael at the gig. On record it is sung in a lovely manner, with cello and more strummed guitar backing Sarah's vocals. 'Out of This World' is piano based, and, very sad and sung by Kevin, sounds like a somewhat doomy Antony and the Johnsons.
'All Across the City', is quite twee, but again absolutely beautiful, and backed by more 50's sci fi noises and some gorgeous strings. 'Goodnight Farewell, My Friend' ends the CD, and, doomy and moody but gentle with it, and based around the piano, has a jazzy lo-fi ness to it, amd recalls last orders after a great night out.
A fine debut album.
Track Listing:-
1
One Day In The Woods
2
Day For Night
3
Petit Nuage
4
Piccadilly Night Bus
5
A Place I Know
6
So Near So Far
7
Michael
8
Out Of This World
9
All Across The City
10
Goodnight Farewell My Friend