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ALBUM REVIEW
June 2004
Review from: maelstrom - june 2004
CAMP, ANDI / WE'RE FROM JAPAN!
You are the Vehicle - CD
Grafton Records - 2004
review by: Roberto Martinelli
A refreshing take on the concept of a split album: both bands work together to form a consistent sound throughout the album. Maybe it’s the longtime metal fan talking, but that’s highly unorthodox... and pretty cool. Right? What’s more representative of a joint effort? An album in which two separate groups of people put their heads together to make something uniquely original, or two groups of people staying on their side of the fence, making only half of what they would have to make for a regular album? But I guess this is more common in the indie world, as we saw a few issues ago with the Kinski/Acid Mother’s Temple split.
 You Are the Vehicle is a charming mix of relaxing, pretty sounds delivered with driving and energizing force. The core of the music lies in piano and drums which march ahead in a way that is almost metal. The going is simple, with themes varied on only slightly to instill a sens of building progression, with a basic yet effective drum roll/pattern underneath. Shoegazing indie rock (that's We're From Japan's contribution) ambiance makes its way into the fold, with chord progressions and notes that would be just right on a lo-fi, atmospheric black metal record, but without any of the distortion or grimness. And this (assumed unintentional) genre-crossing is part of the appeal.
If there can be anything on You Are the Vehicle that can be considered a weak link, it’s Andi Camp's singing. Camp doesn’t have a strong control of her voice, but nonetheless her delivery and the way her vocal lines complement the simple, churning music makes it work. The fact that the album is only 24 minutes long in light of the quality of the material is also a bit of a bummer.
Sealing the highly recommended status is the album’s packaging: a large piece of plastic veneered paper that’s meticulously folded around the simple black CD sleeve. The whole is held fast by an attached string that you wind around a little doughnut. Precious and great. We think you should check it out.
(8.2/10)
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