Blonder Tongue Audio Baton

by The Swirlies

Overview

The Swirlies' first full-length album melds noisy guitars, samples, and sweet girl-boy vocals into a disheveled take on dream pop. Where so many dreamy bands polish their sound into pristine oblivion, the Swirlies create a hazy atmosphere that is evocative and unpretentious. Blonder Tongue Audio Baton -- named after a vintage tube equalizer -- combines the elements of the band's early work with more complexity. Songs like "Bell" and "Vigilant Always" juxtapose gentle and brash moments for a spontaneous feel, while "His Life of Artistic Freedom" expands on the Swirlies' noisy, experimental side. The group also shows off their accessible fuzz-pop on the album's centerpiece, "Pancake." The combination of Seana Carmody's demure vocals, big guitars, and burbling Mellotrons makes for one of Boston's most memorable pop moments since the Pixies' "Gigantic." The crunchy rhythms of "Tree Chopped Down" and "Wrong Tube" complement Damon Tuntunjian and Carmody's limpid vocals beautifully, and the sweetly noisy "Wait Forever" sums up the Swirlies' homemade noise pop aesthetic. A mainstay of early-'90s indie music, Blonder Tongue Audio Baton still sounds fresh today. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	03/26/1993
Label:	Taang! Records
UPC:	0722975006718
Rank:	28041

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Swirlies   Primary Artist
Kevin March   Drums
Ben Drucker   Drums
Andy Bernick   Radio,Bass
Damon Tuntunjian   Moog Synthesizer,Mellotron,Vocals,Guitar
Mark Rivers   Drums
Seana Carmody   Guitar,Vocals,Mellotron,Moog Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Andy Bernick   Composer
The Swirlies   Composer,Producer
Kevin March   Composer
Kerri   Art Direction,Artwork,Design
Ron   Art Direction,Design
Ben Drucker   Composer
Damon Tutunjian   Composer
Mark Rivers   Composer
Seana Carmody   Composer
Rich Costey   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Assistant Producer