Playing Boyfriends and Girlfriends - The front cover of Holidays On
Ice's debut release Playing Boyfriends and Girlfriends is somewhat
misleading. Featuring two figures skiing across snow-covered mountains,
it immediately conjures a sense of cold and desolation for the
uninitiated listener. Thankfully, the winter ambience does not extend
any further than the artwork - the truth is that Playing Boyfriends and
Girlfriends is inherently a summer album, featuring some of the
shiniest, melodic and most varied pop music around.
Since the disbanding of her previous outfit Frente, Angie Hart has
collaborated with a range of musicians, both locally and abroad. Here,
she has teamed up with Dean Manning (formerly of Leonardo's Bride),
Tracey Ellis (from Knievel) and Naomi Radom (Coda) to produce an album
that is playful without being too twee and lush without seeming
overproduced.
The instant standout is Get Up and Fall Down. Harts oh-so-sweet vocals
mesh perfectly with the laidback melodies. Glockenspiel and strings
abound in the second half, lending the song an endearing charm
reminiscent of artists such as the Eels. First single Sailor Girl
treads slightly more rocking territory as Manning takes over the vocal
duties. The perfect summer driving song, it easily rivals the best
moments of the Decemberists and is, in many ways, the most accessible
track on the album.
Experimentation is the key to this release. Citing influences including
The Postal Service, Holidays On Ice embrace the vast array of
electronic devices at their disposal. Consequently, their sound
oscillates between classic indie songwriting, synth-pop and even
trip-hop. The eclectic array of musicians contributing to the album has
lent it enormous diversity and this variety is possibly the strongest
feature of Playing Boyfriends and Girlfriends. It is vastly
experimental and yet retains a kind of straightforwardness that makes
it enjoyable on a surface level as well as upon deeper reflection.
Spell Happiness combines vocoder and Speak & Spell technology to
produce a simple piece revolving around the repetition of the title
lyric. This track is evidence of what Holidays On Ice can create from a
handful of words, some ba ba bas and clever instrumentation. The album
never lacks substance, regardless of the sometimes repetitive nature of
the songs. There is always something to keep the listener engaged. That
said, its sheer variety sometimes lends a feeling of inconsistency,
though this is far from negative. The members of Holidays On Ice are
not afraid to step out of their individual comfort zones and, thus, are
able to explore the full capacity of their collective creativity.
Playing Boyfriends and Girlfriends has already garnered significant
critical acclaim general consensus has labelled it one of the best
Australian releases of the year and there is no doubt that it features
some of the catchiest and most whimsical pop songs to be heard in this
country today. Definitely an act to watch.
Album review by: www.nakeddwarf.com.au/nd/contributors/wiresparrow