Candy Claws
Ceres And Calypso In The Deep Time


4.0
excellent

Review

by PhoenixInFlight USER (1 Reviews)
August 11th, 2013 | 236 replies


Release Date: 2013 | Tracklist

Review Summary: With "Ceres & Calypso in the Deep Time," Candy Claws pays homage to the past rather than mimicking it.

It seems safe to assume that a blurred pink guitar and the feeding of goats were most likely the zone-out images of choice during habitual needle drops and weed sparks in Candy Claws’ practice space. Indeed, where the Colorado psychedelic/shoegaze/dream pop trio derives their influences from lands unsurprisingly adjacent to contemporaries such as Animal Collective, Ducktails and Lotus Plaza. But while this initially seems to be the description of a band crafting middlebrow genre clutter, the group’s junior LP, "Ceres & Calypso in the Deep," demonstrates a knack for harnessing its inspirations and producing a fresh interpretation. The result is an impressive project that maintains its strength despite arriving in the same year when its genre’s founders shattered a two decade silence.

Candy Claws’ primary tactic in doing so is some meticulously researched playing. The group may be heavily referencing the shoegaze textbook, but every iota of white space is scrawled with detailed annotations. The murky walls of sound conjured with effect laden guitars and childlike vocals are executed with precision and poignancy. No better example of this can be heard than on opener “Into the Deep Time (One Sun)” and closer “Where I Found You (One Star),” both of which would certainly have a My Bloody Valentine citation if composed for a music degree thesis. Other tracks, such as “Pangaea Girls (Magic Feeling),” seem to have taken definite cues from Brian Wilson’s compositional genius, and “Birth of the Flower (Seagreen)” even evokes a phonophile wet dream of a Velvet Underground and Beach Boys collaboration while Nico still hung around with the former.

Yet, what sets Candy Claws apart are the aforementioned youthful tendencies; a sense of wonderment and blissful ignorance that cause several of these tracks to take on an aura of fantasy. Whether embarking on a midsummer night flight through a mystical Mediterranean scene on “White Seal (Shell & Spine)” or tuning in to the gorgeously layered soundtrack of an imaginative youngster’s mind on “Transitional Bird (Clever Girl),” Candy Claws capably paints portraits of enchantment with seasoned brush strokes. Perhaps the most surprising and captivating endeavor, however, is the accent of trip hop on the minimalist ambiance of “Night Ela (Mystic Thing).” While the penultimate piece seems like it would have been a more appropriate finale to the album, it retains its idyllic mood and initiates discussion regarding how far Candy Claws may be capable of stretching their sound.

With "Ceres," Candy Claws pays homage to the past rather than mimicking it, when the latter could have very easily been utilized as a somewhat passable crutch. Admittedly, "Ceres" probably isn't a performance of the style that will convert detractors, nor outshine aficionados’ avid 2013 affairs with "M B V" and/or "Sunbather." Regardless, Candy Claws exhibit a knack for fashioning lush, memorable melodies and deserve an equivalent place beside current genre darlings. "Ceres" should be at least a onetime soundtrack for any fellow who fancies staring at their footwear.


user ratings (257)
3.9
excellent
other reviews of this album
ANJ45 (5)
Candy Claws struck sonic gold on this masterpiece of neo-psychedelia and dream pop, easily topping t...



Comments:Add a Comment 
Evreaia
August 10th 2013


5405 Comments


Spacing S. Spacing!

PhoenixInFlight
August 10th 2013


2 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah sorry about that, I still have to figure that out. :/

sideburndude
August 11th 2013


2782 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Yay review

Veldin
August 11th 2013


5408 Comments


I'm interested in this shoegazey goodness.

JamieCTA
August 12th 2013


281 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Very enjoyable record. Picked it up last week and have listened to it several times.



I hear elements of MBV and Slowdive style shoegaze, structured Mew-style indie with a dream-pop influence, pop rock sensibilities of Beach Boys, flashes of "Black Foliage" error Olivia Tremor Control, and even moments of similarities to Animal Collective. Their influences and similarities to other bands are very apparent, but they still write something that is wholly their own without just imitating or rehashing.



The recording quality is a little flat to me at times though.



Overall It's a 3.5 for me that could grow into a 4.



PorkchopExpress
August 17th 2013


405 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Oh man, missed that this got a review. The album is great, and nice first review.

JamieCTA
September 23rd 2013


281 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

wish this album got more exposure.

sportsboy
November 12th 2013


702 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

that album cover is so good

Rev
November 30th 2013


9882 Comments


So great

sportsboy
December 3rd 2013


702 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

this is better than m b v btw

Rev
December 3rd 2013


9882 Comments


anything is better than that turd

sportsboy
April 4th 2014


702 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

this is so underrated i s2g

oltnabrick
September 25th 2014


40765 Comments


Really enjoying this!

PunkMoon
July 26th 2015


228 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Sweet melodies, wish the actual sound wasn't so flat though.

Mystletainn
October 9th 2015


4049 Comments


Really good

I can see why some people might call this samey but each song does just enough to form its own identity, so you can tell the difference between songs.

StarlessCore
October 24th 2015


7813 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

god damn this is good

alienobserver
October 24th 2015


4499 Comments


i gave this a halfhearted listen a while ago i'll check again

StarlessCore
October 24th 2015


7813 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

hits the spot if youre in the mood for this type of stuff imo

Mystletainn
October 24th 2015


4049 Comments


This one is particularly dreamy, I also really dig this bands name.

Chortles
October 26th 2015


21494 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

so good cuh



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