TARRED BRIGADE - HoneyMoon

Tarred Brigade - HoneyMoon

9 songs
29:32 minutes
***** **
(DIY)

Bandpage

Some artists are so full of songs and a need to release them all that the Agrarians from Maryland in the USA made me review ten of their CDs in the last one and a half years. And because they don’t seem to be fully occupied with that band, there are a slew of side-projects to hog even more of their time. Wonderful Wankerz have released already albums, and although I am not informed about the state of affairs of The Library Anns, The Solitarians, Thee Knaves and It’s All For Pascal, I can at least pride myself to hold in my hands a CD by Tarred Brigade, which is more or less the same line-up as the Agrarians, although more space is given to Allison’s vocals.

HoneyMoon is a short album, absolutely lo-fi in its execution but still surprisingly varied in its musical approach. Most songs are carried by the acoustic guitar but allow also bass guitar, percussions and electric guitar to flesh out the overall sound. The opener You Ruined My Plans, God starts like a subdued ballad before halfway in a more experimental part ends it. The following The Accurate Betrayal has a more accessible touch and could pass as the album’s hit song, if radio stations all over the world were willing to give airplay to home recordings. Opposites Attract Samurai even flirts with no wave patterns thanks to the archaic drum programming. The instrumental My Jewish Blues even features a violin. The dual vocals are interacting quite strikingly, which they should, considering that the two band members are married in real life.

HoneyMoon feels at times like a synopsis of the Agrarians’ vast sound. Transgressing the limited territory of singer/songwriterism, Tarred Brigade practise an idiosyncratic kind of acid folk whose lo-fi aesthetics bring it close to the neurotic post Pink Floyd ramblings of Syd Barrett, and that’s considered a compliment. Those on the lookout for sincere home recorded indie music should by all means lend their ears to this charming and busy couple from Maryland.

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