Review: Odd Nosdam “T R I S H” EP

17 Sep 2013 — Henry Schiller

Produced as an homage to the late Broadcast singer Trish Keenan, Odd Nosdam's T R I S H is both remniscent of Broadcast's jarring schematics as well as being wonderfully evocative of sampler obsessed artists like Panda Bear or Black Dice. T R I S H begins with the fuzzy machinations of "T A I K A R", a song whose synthetic bassline and occasional dips into warped minor chords make it sound like something out of David Lynch's Dune. All of T R I S H's 25 minutes are protected by gates of spiky static, but between its bars lurk soft repetitions and almost celestial-sounding pop structures that pay homage to Keenan in a way that is both refined and remniscent of her own proclivity towards noise.

Indeed, T R I S H has its fair share of moments that actually made me jump a little; Odd Nosdam's David P. Madson has peppered T R I S H with intrusive samples and unpredictable chord changes that add excitement in the form of sonic variety and keep the EP from ever sounding like a rehash of other sample-based releases. "O L Y N N", for example, combines the lush noise dynamics of My Bloody Valentine with more contemporary electronic fare, giving the song an acceptably/distinctly retro feel without compromising its modernity. Guest appearances by Grouper's Liz Harris as well as by Bre'r round T R I S H out into an intensely introspective album that doesn't lose sight of interpersonal efforts – a rare feat indeed.

On closer and emotional payload "T R I S H", a liquid bassline is jostled between mounds of explosive static – occasionally offset by what sounds like the squak of a seagull – and ubiquitous smears of organ drone. The repetitive vocals are particualrly remniscent of Panda Bear's Person Pitch album, except in the place of a hearty warmth is resignation and despair. T R I S H is not a happy album; how could it be. But its beauty is comforting rather than malignant - it is a shoulder to cry on and not a reminder of the loss you have suffered. Each is dark, in its own way, but at least the former leaves you with a sense of community and hope.

T R I S H will be available for digital download on September 24 via Burnco Recs.