Headphones On

Music definitions are constantly changing, as is each artist's place among those definitions. Every once in awhile, a record will come out shifting a band in an entirely new direction. Welcome to the "new" Aluminum Group. Once classified as guitar-driven tweepop, the Aluminum Group sound has begin to shift gracefully towards an electro-lounge atmosphere. The number of new elements introduced into the band's repertoire on the new PELO release is astounding. Rarely can a band take such drastic change of direction without falling flat, but the new sound is well executed and works well.

I was a little taken aback when I initially pressed play on PELO during the early am wait of an airport departure lounge. It was 5:30 AM at O'Hare, the sun was rising warmly to the east over rows of plans nested next to the terminal like rows of corn. When the atmospheric synth started up on 'Pussycat', the feeling was almost other worldly. I was not expecting what I heard, but was very pleased with the sound none the less.

John & Frank Navin have always had a collective voice that lends itself more to the Tindersticks than Everything But The Girl, yet this album leans further towards a trip hop disc than any previous Aluminum Group concoctions. The string section is gone and in it's place are two DJs (John McEntire & John Herndon) that make the Aluminum Group a new experience. With the help of two female vocalists, new sound begins to make even more sense.

Considering the Aluminum Group is named after a group of Herman Miller furniture designers from the 60s, be prepared to hear plenty of influence dropping. The arrangements are meticulously done with a quiet nod to Sean O'Hagan. The samples practically breathe out attention to artists such as Momus, Bjork, To Roccoco Rot and Air. The entire album is seamlessly intertwined with the current atmospheric electronica and electro lounge movements. Unlike previous Aluminum Group albums which appeared to be lose steam about halfway through, PELO kept me yearning for the next song.

Despite having a hard time defining this cd, the sounds coming off of it are amazingly fresh. Everytime I hear PELO, a mental picture comes to mind of a little music-loving robot who bops his head in tune to the music despite having rusty and painful joints. PELO contains notes of sadness and melodrama (i.e.. goodbye goldfish, hi piranha) among an overwhelmingly positive release. The new direction that The Aluminum Group has turned in should pan out to be a good one, particularly if this cd is to be the judge.

Originally published at Excellent Online