Review: Caroline - Verdugo Hills

Artist: Caroline
Title: Verdugo Hills
Format: Full-length
Year: 2011
Label: Temporary Residence
Genre: Electronic pop/glitch
Rating: 88 / 100

Since the day Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir left múm, I really started to miss music as cute as their first two albums with her on vocals. Fortunately I discovered Caroline Lufkin last year, a Japanese artist, specialized in creating adorable electronic, glitchy pop music, which regularly reminds me of what múm once did (despite the far more folky, less minimalistic approach of múm). Caroline Lufkin is the sister of more well-known j-pop artist Olivia (Lufkin), but fortunately (not being a huge j-pop fan), her sister's music is completely different, only sharing the beautiful vocal sound. Not until I began writing this review, I finally discovered Caroline is also a full-time member of Mice Parade, a band the aforementioned Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir did guest vocals for on their 2005 album Bem-Vinda Vontade, so I think my associations with múm weren't as far-fetched as I initially thought.

Somewhere in 2006, Caroline released her debut album Murmurs, ever since that day it has been very quiet around her, a remix album of Murmurs was released through iTunes in 2008, but that was it. Now, after 5 years, she finally releases new material: Verdugo Hills, and oh, how I love to hear her soft, whispery vocals again. Verdugo Hills is an album which is actually precisely what one would expect after hearing Murmurs, slow, compelling songs, beats mainly made up by glitches and electronic noises, droning synth-based instrumentation, and of course Caroline's high pitched vocals exciting my ears in any possible manner.

One of the most recognizable characteristics of this album is the lovely minimalistic, almost childish sound Caroline is achieving here, soft as clouds, thin as a satin blanket, yet warm as the sun of early May. As lovely as Lullatone, yet having a rythm section as inimitable as the first two múm records. It is sweetness square, loveliness to the fourth power, yet musically as interesting as a 65daysofstatic album.

To those who fell in love with all music, sweet, tender and cute, please check this out, to those who are already having issues with The Pains of Being Pure At Heart leaving their fuzz pedals at home, please keep a distance of at least 2 to 3 miles to this record, its tenderness might result in honey-infected ears and similar disorders.

Spread the love,

Selwin.