Net Music Review

Before Today - Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti

It's difficult to know whether or not to class "Before Today" as a debut album or not, Ariel Pink (aka Ariel Rosenberg) has been around on the LA scene for a decade or more now producing home recorded collections that have gained an almost mythical status. "Before Today" with backing band Haunted Graffiti is studio album proper, what muddies the water further is that several of the songs here have appeared previously on his collections. Perhaps we should just take the man at his word and think of it as a debut, certainly it is my first introduction to Pink's work.

A lot of Ariel Pink's work has been very lo-fi, recorded at home making drum sounds himself, allegedly even with his armpit, here we find a more polished sound due to the studio environment, however it is hardly what you would call slick production, but does suit the music perfectly. What is evident upon first listen is how unusual this sounds compared to much of today's releases, there is an obvious throwback to 70's and 80's pop here, the influence of Fleetwood Mac and 10CC can certainly be heard throughout. The overall tone consists of a funky bass with plenty of synths and of all things, brass, which all adds up to give a laid back summery feel.

Starting with what sounds like a plane coming towards you "Hot Body Rub" makes you sit up and realise this isn't something usual with the sax and strings almost swirling around before Pink's surreal grunts sounding like a deranged James Brown hit you. Almost as quickly as it started its over ands right into "Bright Lit Blue Skies" a cover of a 60's song that has a carefree, sun drenched quality to it, organ and guitar blend seamlessly and some of the vocal harmonies are sublime. "L'estat (Acc. To The Widow's Maid)" showcases Ariel Pink at his schizophrenic best, starting with a rumble of guitar and drums it immediately slows down into bubblegum pop territory with some beautiful vocals before picking up the pace briefly before coming over as a cross between the Beach Boys and The Beatles. It's a song with so many stops and starts it leaves you dizzy and glad that next track "Friday Night (Nevermore)" slows things down. The comparisons to 10CC are evident here and is a chilled out synth led song that plods along at a middle of the road pace without ever really deviating from that. It sets the scene perfectly for the albums stand out track "Round And Round". Opening with a few "nah nah's" it settles down into a bass led groove where you can't help but to start nodding your head. The highlight of the song is the divinely timed phone ring before being hit with a wall of sound with synths coming into the mix, "Round And Round" was named as song for the year for 2010 by Pitchfork and it's hard to disagree, blissed out summer vibes a plenty.

"Beverly Kills" is a homage to 80's American FM pop and almost acts as an interlude between the first and second halves of the album. "Butt-House Blondies" sees the distortion turned up to 11 to give us a fuzzy, pixies esque rocker, easily the rockiest thing on here and marks a departure from the first half of the album. "Little Wig" seems to carry on that theme with clashing symbols and an up-tempo surfer rock tune with Pink's vocals almost consigned to the background for parts. "Can't See My Eyes" sees the mood slow down with a 70's soft rock ballad which leads into "Reminiscences" a synth instrumental. "Before Today's" final act serves up two dark closers, "Menonpause Man" opens with a rumbling base over Ariel Pink droning vocals until the chorus where the guitar leads us into a falsetto harmony. It however isn't as dark as last track "Revolution's A Lie" which comes over all Joy Division with its sparse sound led by bass and monotone vocals.

Overall "Before Today" is a wonderful achievement, managing to be something out of the norm, but still accessible. Having never heard any of Ariel Pink's previous releases I wasn't sure what to expect, however, I was not disappointed in the slightest. Perfect summer listening, one of the albums of 2010.