caribou - the milk of human kindness

.:: The first record after changing the band's name from Manitoba (before a threatened lawsuit from a similarly-named artist caused the switch to the similarly-Canadian Carobou), Dan Snaith delivers a heavy set of his most developed music to date, touching on influences as distinct and impressive as Neu! and Soft Machine. Full of life and tasteful production/instrumentation, this art record's got antlers, though still progresses like a more delicate animal.

The songs that will jump out a first time listeners, however, are the ones where Snaith makes the transition from organic samples to a more simple band performance, but while the compositions mark a major shift in his musical approach, they still remain true to the Caribou sound.

The leisurely five-minute jam "Bees" centers around a relaxed '60s garage/blues rock groove, complete with cool touches, such as a memorable recorder solo, only to be briefly interrupted by string samples and more of Snaith's thunderous drum fills.

The warm "Hello Hammerheads", meanwhile, is straightforward, late '60s folk pop, the plaintive acoustic guitar and layered vocal harmonies greatly resembling both Simon and Garfunkel and Nick Drake.

Although The Milk of Human Kindness sounds more stripped down, its simplicity is deceiving, as Snaith has drawn from a much wider musical palette that he ever has in the past.


download: caribou - the milk of human kindness

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