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The IfIf - Ollo | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Described as Sydney's own 'Fun Boy 2' Alex Crowfoot and Lars Chresta aka Ollo have created an electro downbeat tour de force with their new album The IfIf. Released through Groovescooter in Australia and 12 Apostles in Europe & the USA, this sparkling array of tracks veers between electro pop, break beat dub & sonic art. Many of the tracks have a vocal but are not necessarily songs and the ones that are have catchy melodies with a definite wry sense of observation. This is particularly so with Campaign For Real Bread, which unusually (these days) has also been released as a vinyl 7 inch single and has a cheeky version of The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum) as a double A. What also gives the album its originality is the wonderful array of instruments and sound sources that make up the Ollo pallette. Field recordings, oil barrels, flute, guitar, recorder, trumpet and a host of analogue synths or plug-ins, all brilliantly played, manipulated and programmed with great attention to detail. Vocalist Inga Liljestrom makes a guest appearance on the track Gordian Knotted, which I found slightly incongruous with the rest of the album, although not for any reason of ability, as she plainly has all the tune & soul of any diva I have heard. Having said that, it is a grower and is certainly helped along by some quirky beat programming and textural cut ups. Other notable tracks are Shaky Flaky with it's infectious beat, dynamic instrumental build and a semi spoken Jarvis Cocker-esque vocal segwaying seamlessly into the cinematic break beat workout of Wakey Moth, which starts with what sounds like sampled pigeon cut up and sequenced into the beat. The closing track Currawong Way is a walk through a forest or bush, the wide stereo bird song and thunder only contributing further to the album's unexpected nature and will certainly be a favourite for field recording fans. It really is this mix of styles and genres that gives the album its unique character. Just to show how talented these boys they have also produced a great video to Campaign For Real Bread which can be viewed from Ollo's web site, a hub of information about them and contains other videos from previous releases and tours. They also host an eclectic radio show EXTENDED PLAY, on Sydney's 2SER every Tuesday (check out their site for your own equivalent location times). The IfIf is an addictive, innovative collection of tracks which deserves all the acclaim it is being heralded with and has to be one of the best albums I have heard this year. Recommended. Review by
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