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Jürgen de Blonde, Hidden Rabbit (Tom): It took me
a few listens to realize that "Reincarnary (for the dead birds)" damn
near reprises Sunny Day Real Estate's "Friday," which came as
something of a shock, given the context. Tom, the Cologne label
responsible for de Blonde's debut under his own name, has been known
until now for burbly, baubly electronica, by turns austere and
childishly oddball. De Blonde himself is better known as Köhn,
whose greyscale soundwashes, while not exactly glum, were none too
chirpy. But Hidden Rabbit roots about in Jim O'Rourke's toy
chest of zithers, chimes and deadpan vocals, dragging out the musical
watercolors to paint an inspired landscape that captures the
wide-eyed wonderment of its maker. This is pop at its purest (hell,
he even dedicates a track to Meredith Brooks), where the rules of
genre fall to the winds. From a city better known for stern-faced,
monochrome dub, de Blonde produces a shimmering mixture of horns,
guitars, organ and indie-pop vocal stylings. Swollen with harmony and
sweet tension, at moments it spills over into MBV-inspired feedback
excess — a remarkable moment of candor from a maker of German
electronica who's not afraid to let his hair down. — Philip
Sherburne
copyright (c) 2001 michael goldberg | design by elephantcloud
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