Mobile
For a two-piece act whose music is often built on processed beats, looped effects and fuzzed-out synth noise, the Portland duo of Kevin O'Connor and Lisa Molinaro consistently pulls off a couple of neat tricks. For one, they sound like a much bigger band, something live shows really highlight; they also come off far more organic-sounding than their building blocks would suggest. Over four full-lengths, this instrumental act demonstrates a keen knack for dynamic shifts and texture-building, and an equally well-honed ear for melody. O'Connor is the beats-master, and also plays a battalion of instruments that add melody or percussive thrum. Molinaro sticks to viola, cello and contrabass, but set against O'Connor's synthetic whorls and freestyle cymbal-and-skins explosions, they provide elegant layers of contrast. The duo's songs tend toward a couple of categories: lush, minor-key melodies that pass in graceful arcs and feature elegiac crescendos, like mash-ups of The Album Leaf and Four Tet; and more feral pieces that aim more at dissonant climaxes. The dozen songs on Ruins tilt toward the latter more than any previous Talkdemonic outing, as O'Connor relies more on processed guitar effects this time. The feedback-and-beats of "City Sleep" could be Sonic Youth on a Motorik bender; the Middle-Eastern guitar howls and drum thunder of "Midnight Pass" a J Mascis-meets-Grails joint. From that standpoint, Ruins feels like a change-up. For those who favor the more melodic side of Talkdemonic, it may not be as rewarding as they'd like, but it's a sign of a band still discovering new inspiration in its niche.
RIYL: Do Make Say Think, Grails, The Album Leaf
Glacial Pace; Release date: Oct. 4, 2011
Speaking of...
-
Ryuichi Sakamoto's Nagasaki: Memories of My Son
Nov 23, 2016 -
Drive-By Truckers' American Band
Nov 9, 2016 -
Bless These Sounds Under the City's On the Brink of Life
Nov 9, 2016 - More »
Latest in Album Review
-
Olivia King's Debut Album “D.I.Y.” available NOW
Jul 7, 2019 -
Bo White Unleashes Patois Counselors' first 'Proper Release'
Jun 13, 2018 -
A Gypsy Music Primer
Mar 28, 2018 - More »
More by John Schacht
-
Two Ex-'CL' Music Editors Put the Charlotte Scene Into Perspective
Apr 26, 2017 -
CD Review: Floating Action's Body Questions
Nov 12, 2014 -
CD review: Buellton's Silent Partner
Oct 1, 2014 - More »
Calendar
-
311: Unity Tour 2025 @ Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre- Tue., June 24, 7 p.m.
-
-
Ledisi with special guest Marsha Ambrosius: love you too, the tour @ Ovens Auditorium- Tue., June 24, 8 p.m.
-
-
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band @ Ovens Auditorium- Wed., June 25, 7:30 p.m.
-
-
Coco Jones: Why Not More? Tour @ N.C. Music Factory- Wed., June 25, 8 p.m.
-
-
¡Tumbao! Psychedelic Salsa Orchestra comes to Queen City! @ Snug Harbor
- Thu., June 26, 7-11 p.m.
-
-
CD Review: Talkdemonic's Ruins
-
CIAA 2012: CL's picks of the very best parties
Our picks for some of the very best parties happening during tournament week.
-
R&B group Shai looks back at 20 years 9
These smooth talkers distinguished themselves with vulnerable lyrics and swelling harmonies
