Looks Familiar＜限定盤＞

オーストラリアにてレイヴン・マホンとミッキー・ヤングのデュオとして始まったグリーン・チャイルド。今ではアレックス・マクファーレンとショーン・ジオニスが加わり、しっかりバンドとしてのボトムが確立。そこから繰り出す新作『LOOKS FAMILIAR』は、バンドとして新たな高みを目指した意欲作。

In some ways, it felt like the Green Childs Raven Mahon and Mikey Young reached the limit of what they could do as a duo on Shimmering Basset. Though that album added more hooks and possibilities to the mystical electronics of their self-titled debut, it also gave the impression that their ability to express their ideas was constrained. Thats not a problem on Look Familiar, the projects first album with drummer Shaun Gionis (also of Boomgates) and guitarist Alex MacFarlane. As a four-piece, the Green Child have the ability to express their adventurous ambitions fully, and they make the most of the tension between electronic and rock instrumentation with surprising turns like "Feet Are Rebels," which pairs a new wave pulse with trilling guitar solos that come closer to Thin Lizzy than any of the bands expected influences. "Easy Window" is even more audacious, careening between spiky post-punk and stately symphonic rock without going off the rails completely. The Green Child also manage to add unusual touches to Look Familiars relatively sedate tracks, like the chromatic percussion that ripples across "Private Laugh"s wall of distortion. On many of the albums standout moments, the drums and guitars make the synths and the faraway quality of Mahons voice sound that much more otherworldly. Gionis stickwork on "A Long Beautiful Cape" sets off its entwined vocals and sparkling melody perfectly, while "Year of the Books" kicks the groups ecstatic motoric into a higher gear than ever before. Likewise, the fluttering opener "Wow Factor" couldve appeared on either of the Green Childs previous albums, but the emphatic momentum it has here lives up to its title. Though some growing pains accompany the bands growing potential -- "The Lawn"s 80s synth pop homage is pretty, but not especially distinctive -- Look Familiar provides just the jolt the Green Child needed, and offers some of their most exciting music. ~ Heather Phares