Tunes Consumed: the Poutine Silver Platter

It would seem that most scenes collaborate enough, I mean the dance scene collaborates ever-so often, mostly in the form of one guy remixing another guy’s single, and that’s cool. The underground rap/hip-hop scene collaborates so much that it literally is manifest with multiple personality disorder (ala MF DOOM). That’s respectable for sure, but what of the rock scene?

There isn’t much that goes on, collaboration-wise, but I suppose that’s a number game. When you have a whole group, it becomes harder to bring someone new to the fold in a joint effort. It happens, though, to be sure.

Xiu Xiu, truth be told, is less a band and more a prolific one-man orbit, with Jamie Stewart at the helm, and a bunch of others who tend to accompany him in a sort of chaotic, free-form indie experiment. The usual breed of their music is to the tune of bizarre, pseudo-dance floor drums & electronics over which Jamie sometimes screams of silly things (ala “Jennifer Lopez“), and other times very serious things (”King Earth, King Earth“).

When Xiu Xiu joined forces on a side-project with Larsen back in 2005, calling themselves XXL, it was hard to say what would happen. Ciautistico! was by no means a critically acclaimed record, though it did ring a few bells. It was apparently enough of a success that the two decided to work together for another release that landed back in May called ¿Spicchiology?.

It is, in all regards a very serious affair. You will not find emphasis anywhere on this record with a pulse faster than 120 which has not already been tainted by the dim mood.

As if all the fun were to somehow bleed off this flat Earth, the album churns a doomsday-like lament right from the start, and “So Easy, So Cheap” invites you to join in with as warm a greeting as can be mustered up.

Apparently that invitation is one of hangovers and headaches, and “Daydrinking” broods a dark organ melody, around which it is built up a glitch canter, and a swelling synth atmosphere.

Fortunately a break comes when Jamie’s voice is first heard on my favourite track, in a very dreamy communique with a ladyfriend. “Little Mouse of the Favelas” is the most serene, and likewise the most conventional Xiu Xiu track to be found. I don’t think anyone can complain about the collaboration after that point.

Still, that is only there to prepare you for the next track. In “King of Koalas” the sweet, soft voice is lost, and replaced with a man who is for some reason short of breath, speaking in a whisper, as if fading from the world of the living. It stings of Scott Walker in his darker hours, only much more drum-infused and builds to a nice plateau before finally fading away into a drone of fuzz.

After a dillapitaded track of experimental keys, a song of piano blues only Stewart could deliver, the album moves into its most experimental-noise, and then finally fades away with “The Tale of Brother Cakes and Sugar Dust,” which is a strange brew of French-cafe instrumentals, and Eastern bells and gongs, with just a touch of duet.

In all, it’s a great record. It is the perfect music to go between two fierce thunderstorms as it will for me. Though I’d say it’s not for the summertime faint of heart, and don’t expect very much shoe-shoe in this Xiu Xiu (Larsen), because you won’t get it.

mp3:
Xiu Xiu Larsen - King Of Koalas
Xiu Xiu Larsen - Little Mouse Of The Favelas

album art:

The album is out on Important Records, and you will find it over at Amazon for $17 US.