Stratosphere＜Gold Dust Vinyl＞

スロウコアの礎を築いたUSインディの伝説DUSTER、98年デビュー作がカラーLPリプレス!

約4年という活動期間でスロウコアの礎を築いたUSインディの伝説DUSTER。柔らかくも胸をしっかり掴む病みつき必至なメロディを量産し、時を越えて再評価を受けた彼等の1998年デビュー作『STRATOSPHERE』が再発!まだデビュー作なだけあってシンプル過ぎる構成と粗削りローファイ音質の極みで、最後まで突っ走るのが特徴の本作。 しかし聴く人全てを脱力し感動させるセンスは、この頃から健在!スロウコアの武器であるアルペジオを駆使したアンサンブルは圧巻! このアルバムで聴ける数々のアプローチは、2010年代以降一気に花開きUSインディをさらに盛り上げるのでした。

Duster is made up of two members, C. Amber and E. Parton, with occasional help from their friends on drums and recording duties. Stratosphere is mainly recorded at their home on four track. At times, they sound like Pavement and other times like Seely with higher pitched male vocals. Stratosphere demonstrates their guitar-based focus, riding on the flow of duel picking guitar melodies. With many guitars switching dynamic roles and riding on tunings, Duster sounds a bit like early Sonic Youth. Bass and drums act as the bottom, while guitars playfully find their melody by feeding off one another, throwing notes back and forth. The four-track recording element brings a wonderful space warmth or humidity to Stratosphere, which keeps you flying in the air or floating in space. A hard task with a four-track recording is the recording of the vocals. For atmospheric affect, it works. The voice provides texture to the plucking guitars, but no lyrics are understood. They act as instruments. Along with guitars and vocals, many great manipulations with tape noise as background effects exist on Stratosphere. "Echo Bravo" is definitely the highlight of the record. A long build of noise and whiny guitars rev up the track with a steady drum machine beat creating stress and tension. When is it going to give? Then, it finally busts. Distorted guitars in a heavy breakdown find their cues. Vocals appear 2:45 seconds in to deliver a depressing calming element in the lazy delivery. The record may be a bit long for some listeners, clocking in at 53 minutes. Stratosphere is best listened to at different times; tracks may be isolated or the record can be divided in parts. Duster are at their finest when they play with dynamics. Many tunes have a loud and a soft part, but they are never predictable. The transition is always interesting or takes you by surprise. ~ Francis Arres