What Do You Do All Day?

マンチェスターのインディー・ポップ/ロックバンド、Autocamperのデビューアルバム。
60年代のジャングルや70年代のAMラジオ・ポップと同様に、パンクやポスト・パンクにインスパイアされた初期のフライング・ナンやポストカード・レーベルのバンドのDIYルーツを思い起こさせる作品。フレッシュでまったく時代を超越した、ツイているわけでもなく、アノラックでもなく、ラッキーでもない、ただのポップ。

The lads and lasses of Autocamper have clearly done their homework, studying the greats of indie pop -- the noisy bands of C86, the jangling bands of Sarah Records, the laconic indie rockers of early-90s America, and seemingly every important group (the Pastels, Belle & Sebastian, Camera Obscura, the Vaselines, etc.) to hail from Scotland -- with their noses buried deep in the books and never allowing anything to distract them from absorbing knowledge. The result of all this hard work and dedication is a passing grade for their debut album, What Do You Do All Day? There are enough pleasant melodies and sharply poppy hooks to fill a giant-size lunch box, and the band crank them out like theyre second nature. The lineup is the classic guitar-bass-drums with vintage-sounding keys, all synched up and joyfully tight as they romp and roll through a batch of songs that are quite convincing whether they boost the energy and tempo ("Foxes," "Proper"), jangle nicely ("Map Like a Leaf") or rollick a little bit ("Dogsitting"). On these tracks, vocalist Jack Harkins displays a croon located somewhere in the neighborhood of Calvin Johnsons -- deep and stentorian, though at times the innocence shows through the gruffness to reveal some tender emotions. It might take a spin or two to get used to, but the effort is worth it. He doesnt sound like a basic indie pop singer, and the novelty of it is worth an extra handful of cred points. On the other hand, the bands other vocalist, Niamh Purtill, has an instantly loveable style. Shes mostly relegated to backing and harmony duties (along with providing keyboards), but she gets the lead on a couple of tracks, and they are the albums highlights. On the truly lovely melancholy ballad "Red Flowers" her vocals float over the gently strummed guitars and wandering flutes like flower petals on a slowly bubbling stream, while "Street Views" thumps quietly like one of Yo La Tengos calmer songs and her vocals show off a more insistent, passionate side. Its tempting to make a plea for her to handle all the vocals, but the balance between the two singers and the kind of songs they write/sing is what gives the record an extra jolt of dynamic tension. Thanks to their diligence, the stirring songs performed with vim and vigor, and the uneasy balance between singers, Autocamper leave the cookie-cutter indie pop bands that surround them in their wake. ~ Tim Sendra