The folkronic hop moniker that Talkdemonic once proclaimed as an accurate description of their music seems altogether forgotten on their third and latest album, Eyes at Half Mast (Arena Rock). The album, brimming with everything from analog synths, banjos, fuzz violas, and rhodes is more indicative of atmospheric, instrumental chamber pop than the quieter and more subdued moments on the band’s previous two albums, 2004’s Mutinysunshine (Lucky Sunshine) and 2006’s Beat Romantic (Arena Rock). Indeed, whereas Mutinysunshine was a rougher representation of the band’s experimentation with folk instruments, electronic beats, and a hip hop ethos and Beat Romantic was a sweeping, yet softer take on the duo’s original sound, Eyes at Half Mast is fueled by a range of different sounds and instruments to create something fresh.
Based in Portland, Oregon, the duo, comprised of Kevin O’Connor and Lisa Molinaro first formed Talkdemonic in 2002 as a musical outlet to express the duo’s love of instrumental hip hop and electronic music. “Dim Sky,” which starts off with quiet analog synths and a steady drum beat is quickly propelled to rapturous proportions. Although less than two-and-a-half minutes, the song builds with an almost excessive force, frenetically picking up speed by the second half. It’s clear that, although the song doesn’t appear until halfway through the record, it works as the perfect example of the group’s evolution of sounds.
Similar to “Dim Sky,” the group further embraces more near-bombastic sounds on “Duality of Deathening.” Like the title claims, the song works, as a duality of sounds with violas working together with drums and tamborine’s to create an effortless and euphoric interlude. “Shattered into Dyes” follows soon after, completely shying away from the group’s more cultivated “folktronic hop” recipe, with an addictive beat delivered through chopped drums. Although abrupt in length, the song packs enough punch to continue to deliver on the band’s experimentation evident throughout the entire record.
However, despite the group’s newfound taste for more ecstatic material, the album is layered with banjos on two of the fourteen songs. Surprisingly, the more traditional instrument works with the synths, evident on every song on the record. Folk music and electronic beats blend quite well, and Talkdemonic, especially on Eyes at Half Mast, seem to be the strongest arbiter of such melding of genres.
– Britt Julious
Talkdemonic: www.talkdemonic.com
Arena Rock Recording: www.arenarock.com