Album: Viva Voce <!-- none onestar twostar threestar fourstar fivestar -->

Get Yr Blood Sucked Out, FULL TIME HOBBY

Andy Gill
Thursday 17 August 2006 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Few duos - The White Stripes included - make as dense and richly-textured a noise as Kevin and Anita Robinson, the Portland, Oregon-based couple who record as Viva Voce. This follow-up to last year's acclaimed The Heat Can Melt Your Brain is another delirious mash-up of psychedelic rock, close-harmony vocals and catchy, poppy hooks that invites comparison with all manner of colourful stitches from rock's rich tapestry, from The Mamas & The Papas' airy folk-rock, through the dreamy, opiated indie-rock of Mazzy Starr and Mercury Rev, to the full-on krautrock motorik of Neu! that drives the chugging "So Many Miles", one of the stand-out tracks here. It's a rawer sound than their previous releases, with titles like "When Planets Collide", "From The Devil Himself" and "We Do Not Fuck Around" giving some idea of the apocalyptic themes investigated; but these tougher moments are balanced by the affirmative attitude of "Special Thing" and "How To Nurse A Bruised Ego", and "Bill Bixby", which soothes the ear like the palate-freshening sorbet between the courses of a meal.

DOWNLOAD THIS: 'So Many Miles', 'We Do Not Fuck Around', 'From The Devil Himself', 'Special Thing'

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in