A fuzzy overture reaming in reverse begins Home Videos’ mammoth release “Home Taping is Killing Music,” released in June on Raincoated Records, astonishing throughout the emo-gaze pitch deck, transmuting rejection and avoidance into triumphant slacker rock-core.
“Underwater Breathing” meditates and bounces with dissonant guitar-work in unison and dreamscape tape production, with just an initial whisper of vocal concern. Punctuating through stoner-rock crusts are tight snare and cymbal hits. Next, on “Instant Coffee,” a gray lyrical resolve finds a porchy counterpoint.
Murkily crawling with straight-ahead shoegaze, “Take Care” strongly builds, with crashing instrumental breakdowns and outer-space drum work. Beneath this and “An Excuse, An Apology, Again” are undercurrents of searching and mismatches, slewing and building with dissonance, explosions and vocals up the octave: Writing loose leaf pages trying to make sense of it all.
“Pixie Daisies” is a sweet lament with an endearing, quiet introduction over a low solo guitar. The allure of falling for the one not recommended can be unignorable, though often leading to “Pablo Honey”-style bewilderment from being let down: I should’ve listened when they said you were no good for me.
“The Devil’s Credit Score” kindles a mathy wall of bass-led fury, hurdling vocals from whisper to scream and concluding with chaos. Completely in balance, “My Whole Life” offers a clear, hopeful vision forward for a romantic avoider of reality, worrying but yearning for companionship in this more-direct album offering: Oh my darling, stay with me tonight, sleep in through the morning, soft against my side.
“Bedhead” seals the 48-minute, tape-recorded album as an epic odyssey with a climbing chillness and extreme phrasing structure. Strings sound like they’ll break from rot, with kneading echoes tolling away like a train as closure.
Ryan M. Yarmel is a contributor to CITY.
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2024.
