Rating: ****
Casey Chandler and his Galapaghost project are back and this time it's with an almost entirely DIY album called "Sootie".
Apparently, this album had a $600 budget and was recorded at Chandler's home with very little recording equipment. Oh, it's also almost all electronic. So there's that.
I'm excited to check out what this sounds like. I'm gonna go and listen to it and then I'll share my thoughts. You know, the usual.
Listen to "Sootie" on Soundcloud here:
Track one is "Bedtime" and the electronic influence is in full effect. Super cool vibe though. Ambient without the pretense that a lot of ambient music carries. Well-sung also. A really solid opening song here. "May 25" almost starts with a reggae-type intro. It transitions into more of a traditional house beat soon enough. Another really good track to start this album. "Jellyfish" has almost a Moby feel to it. It's remarkable that Chandler recorded this on the budget that he did. You wouldn't know it. "Seth" seems like a filler track, but it's not bad, while title track "Sootie" is a hypnotic blend of beats and synth that will need repeated listenings to fully appreciate. "Verizon LG" wins for being the only song named after a Verizon LG. It's also a solid track with one of the best melodies on the entire album. Lyrically creative and funny. I dig it. "Lukewarm Love" isn't my favorite song on the record. A rare dim spot in what has been very good thus far. "Don't Frown" however is a delight. The penultimate track on the albuA really excellent album overall, with only a couple of tracks I would consider skipping and ever those ones aren't egregious. Galapaghost comes strong with this effort and I'm happy about that. And only a $600 investment. Not a bad deal. Highly recommended.A really excellent album overall, with only a couple of tracks I would consider skipping and ever those ones aren't egregious. Galapaghost comes strong with this effort and I'm happy about that. And only a $600 investment. Not a bad deal. Highly recommended.m also is my favorite track of the second half of the record by far. "Sunfrost" is a dream album-ender in the vein of some of the Shins most recent efforts. Headphone fodder for sure.
A really excellent album overall, with only a couple of tracks I would consider skipping and ever those ones aren't egregious. Galapaghost comes strong with this effort and I'm happy about that. And only a $600 investment. Not a bad deal. Highly recommended.