Conquering Animal Sound - Kammerspiel

by Paul Waller

published: 29 / 1 / 2011

Label: Gizeh Records
Format: CD

Wintry-sounding debut album from ethereal Scottish duo Conquering Animal Sound, while while slow to get on going has many strong moments

Review

The lead single taken from 'Kammerspiel','Bear' enticed me enough to want to investigate Scotland's Conquering Animal Sound further and now I have the band's new record in my hands I’m left somewhat perplexed. It’s a difficult album to love although it contains multiple hooks and enough ethereal pixie spirit to entice the most fleeting Bjork/Joanna Newsom fans. A lot of this album feels cold. I can picture the band recording the likes of 'Crawl' in a church and it has an icy feel to it as does the front cover of the record. It would seem if you are after the perfect winter record then you may have found it here. The highlights here though are smashing songs; 'Flinch' has an oriental theme running thorough it, a plink plonk rhythm give the track legs. It transforms the album,. All of a sudden on this fourth track the group becomes alive. 'Ira' is much the same. It’s too straight a song to be compared to a band like Mum but if you want a comparison then that’s about as close as you will get. The vocals from Anneke Kampman float over the top of the music like clouds and hold the whole thing together. But oddly I think I would have enjoyed this just as much if 'Kammerspeil' was vocal free. Regardless Conquering Animal Sound should fill the gap enough to tide over those waiting impatiently for the new Fever Ray opus.