Drive In

Reviews

Hydroplane
Hope Against Hope (CDS)
The Cat's Miaow and their side project Hydroplane are becoming indistinguishable from each other lately. Like The Long Goodbye, which was released by the Cat's Miaow as part of Darla's Bliss Out series, Hydroplane's Hope Against Hope features Kerry's vocals echoing gently over minimal guitars and unearthly atmospherics. The result is a hauntingly beautiful collection of songs to lose yourself in on quiet nights in.

The Salteens
Short-Term Memories (CD)
The debut LP by Vancouver's Salteens has it all: lo-fi rock guitars, vocal harmonies, hand claps, cheesy keyboard sounds, and even the obligatory indie-pop trumpet solos. The songs are insanely catchy throughout, from the You Keep Me Hanging On like chiming guitars at the opening of Kelly Nicholl through to the knowingly naive Nice Day. If I have any complaint with this record it is that all ten glorious tracks are packed into just twenty five minutes, with the songs rarely lasting much more than two minutes. Still, it seems churlish to complain when presented with so perfect a serving of pop.

Clock Strikes Thirteen
Ever Decreasing Circles (CD)
From the opening lyric of "When were together everything seemed much more meaningful" through to the final strains of The Last Sad Song this rather mournful record explores feelings of loss and regret against a soundtrack of Byrds like jangling guitars. The jaunty duet Night Must Fall provides one of the few upbeat moments of the album, but I Blinked My Eyes And You Were Gone soon brings us crashing back down to Earth again. Excellent, but not a party record.