FACING NEW YORK

Surely provided with some indie/alternative leanings this is a fantastic debut album from a group born in San Francisco, that means facing New York on the other side of the continent, right? The band which originally hails from the Bay Area punk rock mecca offers atmosphere, intriguing dynamics, lovely melodies and psychedelic guitars en masse - a proper package in order to thrill me. While trying to duplicate the energy of their stage performance, they have recorded the most parts of this album live in the studio. The line-up still comprises the five original founding members here - some years later Rene Carranza and Matt Fazzi left FACING NEW YORK though.

Most of the songs are short, there is an emphasis on a melodic tension to state - the band's trademark. Nothing is predictible overall, even after several listening sessions, here we have an entertaining affair really. With We Are they open in a charming manner, Apple Sugar Cider comes soooo sweet, a ballad, where both echoed guitars as well as the electric piano wonderfully complement each other. My home is made of Styrofoam Walls - hence the sound is present everywhere, a vibrant rocking thing you can't escape from.

Fly On The Wall represents the album's essence, comes as the masterpiece with perpetual tempo changes and moods, jamming moments, cosmic guitars, damn rocking as well. Finally Butterfly Clock picks up the main melody from the album's opening song at the very end - and this rounds it all perfectly up in my opinion. Their debut impresses me again and again since years. Tricky song-writing, great musicianship, vocals are extremely good and the melodies are haunting - all you need for an enjoyable musical excursion.