04/12/2023
Rob at Ban Ban Ton Ton wrote a great review about the upcoming Golden Retriever.
"Hawaii-based guitarist, Golden Retriever, returns to Swedish label, Omena, almost exactly 7 years after the release of their sought-after debut, Capablanca. That set demonstrated an intricacy and delicacy, made all the more incredible by the fact that it was recorded on an iPhone. When reviewing it I pulled in references to Haruomi Hosono, Seigen Ono, the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and CFCF’s understated International Feel classic, On Vacation.
The new E.P. is another suite of mini 6-string symphonies, full of perfect picking, clipped, rhythmic strumming and plucking. Overdubs run backwards and forwards, accompanied by bright, blinking keys. Their colour conjuring stars twinkling in an idealised, fairy tale sky. Somewhere secluded, far removed from the city and urban life’s 24 / 7 light saturation. Part Lake finds the fingers of our artist – who remains anonymous – dancing with Durutti Column dexterity. Painting a sketch for late summer, autumn. The sun still high, with a chill in the air, but you’re wrapped up warm, unworried. Andros Dunos – possibly a nod to the `90s arcade game – is a gentle, joyful jig, that recalls the wonderful Brothers Ives, aka Woo. Digambara, named after a naked sect of the Indian religion, Jainism, has a jazzier swing, while Modulatons 1 is a beautiful tangle of tumbling notes. Echo toying with and tugging at its edges, resulting in slightly psychedelic, frozen after-images. Microdosed vapour trails of delay. Blurring reality, momentarily, as a piano creates peaceful cascades. Producing a graceful, but dizzying, post-rock display."
(Vinyl shipping from the distro to shop all around this week, digital out on Thursday).
Hawaii-based guitarist, Golden Retriever, returns to Swedish label, Omena, almost exactly 7 years after the release of their sought-after debut, Capablanca. That set demonstrated an intricacy and d…