Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made by Fol Chen
LABEL: Asthmatic Kitty

“Reviewing music is ultimately subjective but it's hard to imagine a song on this album being easily replaced. What isn't hard to visualize is the way the artist views this.”

Fol Chen's first release for Asthmatic Kitty is a lesson in how drama can be done right. It's for the stage, it's for the music and it is a glorious experience, transcending the standard lo-fi electropop scene with the heavy depths below. There is room to sit here and veg to the music or to listen while doing other things. But this is also a record that can be sat around and listened to, time and again for nothing but the sake of the music. There is more going on here than is evident at first and the evocative nature of the artist's theatrical whimsies titillate the listener.

People will regard them as too high minded or reaching too far on the deeper cuts, the ones that don't give up their charms as easily to an idle listener. That is a constant peril of trying, however and Fol Chen doesn't seem like it will stop them anytime soon. Their remix album (download for free here) has a number of interesting and vivid options on top of the original tracks if this doesn't work on enough cylinders for the listener.

Reviewing music is ultimately subjective but it's hard to imagine a song on this album being easily replaced. What isn't hard to visualize is the way the artist views this. Their playful and enigmatic description on the Asthmatic Kitty website speaks volumes for it. No one held back an idea in the creation of this album, it was put out there and its refreshing. When an artist doesn't hold back and is a real entertainer they can give you a great experience and memory. Do yourself a favor and check this one ouf it you haven't already.


REVIEWED BY RAIN PLETCHER
RAIN'S FAVORITE TRACKS: “The Believers” • “The Idiot” • “Please, John, You're Killing Me”
rain@groovemine.com

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