Orchidales-Orchidales (2017 Reissue)

sufferinsukatash · 01-18-2021, 10:59 PM

Orchidales-Orchidales

Orchidales are a one piece outfit from North Carolina who write songs that fondly reminisce and confidently reevaluate the relevance of American surf and garage rock from the 50s and 60s for the first half of the 21st century. Solely the creation of John O'Donahue (and Maegan Severt whose beautiful visage graces the center of the cover, playfully asserting the possibility that she is the subject of one or more of these songs-or that she is the orchid in question in the title; a interesting thought considering that the cover is in black and white and that orchids are often brightly colored) the 2017 reissue of the self-titled album is chock full of pretty, shimmering guitar lines that are slowed down just enough and given enough reverb to sound as dramatic as the most morose of Johnny Marrs' yet as genre-friendly as The Ventures. Nearly equal in the mix are the basslines which are confident, melodic, and often complementarily optimistic in mood and approach, the deceptively simple percussion, and the ghostly vocals that delicately moan about the usual: sex (and love), drugs, rock and roll.

But the songs are never mere nostalgia or amateurish imitation, like some might accuse Brian Setzer or George Thorogood of being to their influences. They are more an acknowledgement and sincere carrying on of a musical (and even geographical) tradition. This is seen in the music as well as in the songs, who address the aforementioned triptych without the trappings of a showman pandering to a crowd or playing the old hits. They are sincere and sensitive reflections on the sticky sides of the people and places that this music was conceived alongside of and of the music that inspired it.

Stylistically, the album will sit well with fans of classic garage, psych, and surf as well as with fans of famous psych/garage/surf revivalists such as MGMT, Melody's Echo Chamber, Temples, and others. The production is certainly lo-fi (intentional or otherwise) for those particularly fond of that, but not so much as a Daniel Johnston or Half-Japanese which can be construed by less forgiving audiences as being excessively indie (whatever that may mean).

The album, along with their others, can be found on Bandcamp. They are currently free so there really is no reason not to download them. Like seriously. Do it. And if you like it, give an artist some recognition in the form of a modest monetary amount please. Thanks.

01-18-2021, 10:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
sufferinsukatash Music Addict Join Date: May 2020 Location: Canada Posts: 166	Orchidales-Orchidales (2017 Reissue) Orchidales-Orchidales Orchidales are a one piece outfit from North Carolina who write songs that fondly reminisce and confidently reevaluate the relevance of American surf and garage rock from the 50s and 60s for the first half of the 21st century. Solely the creation of John O'Donahue (and Maegan Severt whose beautiful visage graces the center of the cover, playfully asserting the possibility that she is the subject of one or more of these songs-or that she is the orchid in question in the title; a interesting thought considering that the cover is in black and white and that orchids are often brightly colored) the 2017 reissue of the self-titled album is chock full of pretty, shimmering guitar lines that are slowed down just enough and given enough reverb to sound as dramatic as the most morose of Johnny Marrs' yet as genre-friendly as The Ventures. Nearly equal in the mix are the basslines which are confident, melodic, and often complementarily optimistic in mood and approach, the deceptively simple percussion, and the ghostly vocals that delicately moan about the usual: sex (and love), drugs, rock and roll. But the songs are never mere nostalgia or amateurish imitation, like some might accuse Brian Setzer or George Thorogood of being to their influences. They are more an acknowledgement and sincere carrying on of a musical (and even geographical) tradition. This is seen in the music as well as in the songs, who address the aforementioned triptych without the trappings of a showman pandering to a crowd or playing the old hits. They are sincere and sensitive reflections on the sticky sides of the people and places that this music was conceived alongside of and of the music that inspired it. Stylistically, the album will sit well with fans of classic garage, psych, and surf as well as with fans of famous psych/garage/surf revivalists such as MGMT, Melody's Echo Chamber, Temples, and others. The production is certainly lo-fi (intentional or otherwise) for those particularly fond of that, but not so much as a Daniel Johnston or Half-Japanese which can be construed by less forgiving audiences as being excessively indie (whatever that may mean). The album, along with their others, can be found on Bandcamp. They are currently free so there really is no reason not to download them. Like seriously. Do it. And if you like it, give an artist some recognition in the form of a modest monetary amount please. Thanks.