The vocals are way down in the mix; it sounds like the singer has a sock pulled over his head.
The vocals are way down in the mix; it sounds like the singer has a sock pulled over his head.
Video Hippos – Umbeast the Leash
http://www.konkurrent.nl/ http://www.monitorrecords.com/
Let’s see if I can "nail" Video Hippos… So, it’s very enjoyable, very thrashy, (no I can’t us the word lo-fi again…) slightly naïve DIY pop. Its slapdash, almost wilful amateurism reminds me of a speeded up Pastels, or very, very tinny Ramones. Maybe the Ramones playing down the street. Or a pre-teen Lush cover band (it must be those the chord changes, kids). The vocals are way down in the mix; it sounds like the singer has a sock pulled over his head. And there’s a childish synthesizer underpinning stuff. Now; that should give you a fair idea of how this CD sounds.
Everything bowls along at a reasonably upbeat pace and most of the tracks are pretty short; only Rider clocks in over the 3 minute mark. It also happens to be the stand-out track on this release, a hint of grit and determination doing wonders. Now why can’t Video Hippos do that more?
All I all, an enjoyable if slightly unfocused listen. Check it out.
Words: Richard Foster