Observer Drift Corridors

  full reviewuser ratings (3) 
Tracklist:
1. Corridors
2. Warm Waves
3. Backwards
4. Her Lullaby
5. Tree Shadow
6. Home Video
7. Letters to Myself
8. Thousands of Days
9. Illumination
10. Use Stars
11. We Make Believe
12. Tree Shadow (alt. version)
13. Thread


Release Date: 01/05/2012

user rating
3.5
great
Chart.

recommended by reviewer
Wild Nothing Gemini
Minks By the Hedge
Still Corners Creatures of an Hour


  On 1 Lists

3.0
good
rasputin CONTRIBUTOR (189 Reviews)

January 29th, 2012 | 27 replies | 1,640 views

3 of 3 thought this review was well written

Recorded over a period of 8 months in his own bedroom, Colin Ward under his moniker Observer Drift explores the subtleties of shoegaze and dream pop, with mixed results - while it can be argued that his replication of not only the originators of the genre but even other revivalists is highly derivative, Corridors is not completely lacking in substance when it comes to composition and pop sensibility. First impressions for the record are not all together appealing, but it can be said that it has some potential to grow - following in the vein of Wild Nothing's 2010 released Gemini, Corridors combines a dream pop aesthetic with programmed drums and a wistful atmosphere. It does somewhat capture the general mood it requires, but it's hard to say Corridors hits the nail on the head. One important factor in regards to the success of Wild Nothing is that almost every song on the LP is built around strong hooks and addictive melodies. Ward manages to achieve similar results with some songs on Corridors, but falls short when it comes to creating a fully engaging record.

What may be a fundamental flaw in comparing Corridors with Gemini is that though sounding remarkably similar, each respective artist may be aiming for a different outcome - unlike Wild Nothing's shorter and highly palatable songs, Observer Drift has longer songs which on occasion toy with relatively slow tempos. Songs like 'Tree Shadow', with a duration of just over 3 minutes, is much in the vein of Wild Nothing's songwriting yet sits alongside slow burners such as the 6 minute 'We Make Believe' or the exemplary, eponymous opener. Various other minute comparisons can be made but the point of putting it alongside another record with almost identical features and aims is to highlight that Observer Drift delivers some great songs but doesn't manage to elicit a stronger emotional response than other albums like it. Needless to say, the above rating is absolutely not generous in any way, and thus this album is still recommended for those who enjoy basking in the melancholy of the dream/indie pop revival - Colin Ward seems to know what he is doing and his potential as a musician is yet to be fully realised.

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Comments:Add a Comment 
rasputin
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14001 Comments


sup

Romulus
January 29th 2012



7709 Comments


youtubed this a little a while ago. it's good but a little lazy, probably something i'd have to listen to as a whole to appreciate

the wild nothing comparison is certainly apt but it does seem strange to use it as the basis for the review

rasputin
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14001 Comments


not really strange at all when you consider how similar they are. i could make a list of similarities for you but cbf. the gist of using it (other than to give a solid starting point) is that there's no point in talking about absolutes when it's derivative revivalist bands in question

RiffOClock
January 29th 2012



8087 Comments


i been puttin off that wild nothing album for like a year now, nice

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Digging: Florence & The Machine - Split

Romulus
January 29th 2012



7709 Comments


i didn't neg btw. this is a good review although the main point i got from it was 'this is decent dream pop but it is worse than wild nothing' which is tough to get behind if you haven't heard wild nothing

Wizard
January 29th 2012



15849 Comments


I'm giving this album a chance despite the pop tags associated. I've been dying to hear something outside my comfort zone lately. Good review buddy!

Digging: Vaura - Selenelion

Digging: Vaura - Selenelion

rasputin
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14001 Comments


I'm giving this album a chance despite the pop tags associated. I've been dying to hear something outside my comfort zone lately. Good review buddy!


cheers mate, I'd suggest you check out Wild Nothing - Gemini first though.

well im still spinning red nightfall and loving it so let's see if you're 2/2


keep in mind I'm not as big a fan of this as red nightfall

AggravatedYeti
January 29th 2012



7626 Comments


sounds a whole lot like Gemini
but agreed there is a certain malaise to this release comparatively.

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Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

rasputin
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14001 Comments


this is a good review although the main point i got from it was 'this is decent dream pop but it is worse than wild nothing' which is tough to get behind if you haven't heard wild nothing


yah but you know it's dream pop, the style doesn't have all that much variation

AggravatedYeti
January 29th 2012



7626 Comments


the signifiers rasp hits on Rom should be easy enough to understand.

Quality hooks, agreeable atmosphere throughout the record's length.

also:

Ward manages achieve similar results with some songs on Corridors

figure you mean "manages to achieve."

rasputin
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14001 Comments


yah, thanks. will fix now.

AggravatedYeti
January 29th 2012



7626 Comments


no problem homie. what I'm here for.

Have you heard Youth Lagoon's A Year of Hibernation, rasp?
Reminds me a lot of Gemini's Modernist-Pop-Via-Indie-Nostalgia trappings. In the best way possible of course.

rasputin
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14001 Comments


yeah I've been through it a few times - I like what I've heard so far but I've yet to absorb it properly

AngelofDeath
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14899 Comments


Good review. I think I have Gemini downloaded but still haven't given it a listen. But this seems worth checking out too, since I haven't really found anything from this month that's been too good.

Digging: Bon Appetite - For Emeril, Forever Ago

Digging: Bon Appetite - For Emeril, Forever Ago

rasputin
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14001 Comments


yah I'm the same, the only two albums I've rated high enough to be considered for my end of year list were Kayo Dot and the Trespassers William compilation

AngelofDeath
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14899 Comments


Oh, yeah. Thanks for reminding me to spin Gamma Knife, haha. I pulled the stream up the other day and ended up never listening to it.

rasputin
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14001 Comments


no probs

it's pretty good

AngelofDeath
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14899 Comments


February's looking pretty good so far. Got Larvae and Eternal Turn of the Wheel pre-ordered. And Despond's coming out on vinyl.

rasputin
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14001 Comments


yeah I'm keen on Larvae and Eternal Turn too

start working again this week so I'll have moneys for records soon enough, definitely want to get Despond

AngelofDeath
Contributing Reviewer
January 29th 2012



14899 Comments


Good deal. Been having to cut down on my record expenditure lately to save up for plane fare to Gilead Media Fest.



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