|
CLOUDBOY Down At The End Of The Garden (Arclife) Dunedin based around the talents of Demarnia Lloyd, Johannes Contag and Craig Monk. In the tradition of the bands from which Cloudboy have evolved, however, there are various associate members, called in to help when required. They originated as a side project of now-defunct Dunedin electro-pop con artists Mink, and recorded a mini-album centered around eponymous title track 'cloudboy', presenting a more intimate, minimalist side of singer Demarnia's talent. A few singles were released in the following years, namely picture disc Little Prince and the flying-nun-released Pet. Live, Cloudboy have undergone numerous variations, sometimes with up to six players on stage, at other times stripped right back to two or three. almost invariably there will also be a computer, dat-machine or cd-player pumping out some twisted backing beats and sample loops. In the last couple of years, Cloudboy have branched out to play all kinds of extra-pub music such as dance party chill-out tents and movie soundtracks. Their reimagining of the soundtrack to cult world fiim Baraka was a real treat. |
|
Cloudboy are another outfit of arty Dunedin origins, but there's not a tortured guitar within earshot on their delightful latest offering. A collection of deadpan and downbeat electronic pop enriched with many an organic instrument, Down at the End of the Garden suggests the result of the city's lo-fi creativity blooming in a digital setting. It's an album of foggy atmospheres infused with beguiling melodies care of the breathy vocals of frontwoman Demarnia Lloyd. Her singing and the semi-electronic arrangements can prompt a Bjork echo or two (especially on 'Feudal' and 'Ahoy'), but Lloyd and co don't pale in the comparison. Mostly, it's sad, sweet pop gone weird and dreamy, right from the tabla and violins opener of 'Teaboy', through the lava-lamp Latin of 'Red Rubicon', and on past the dubby throb of 'Cup Of Roses' and the cool sweet-nothings of '(You're So) Pretty'. It's imaginative pop of just-so poise with a hint of darkness which maintains its grip throughout its 15 tracks. And while mildly unconventional, at least for this country, Down At the End of the Garden actually manages to give "quirky" a good name. It's a heady album that deserves to drag Cloudboy out of southern obscurity. 
|
