The Avalanches‘ sophomore album Wildflower is a musical carnival ride, a producers paradise that is obsessed with the groove. To say it’s a long awaited project is an understatement, and they don’t disappoint with a series of beats that are tantamount to a fireworks display on the 4th.
The only catch is the guest spots. There are plenty and run the gamut stylistically, but not all are hits. The all inclusive mentality clashes with the beat at times, which creates a convoluted and inconsistent flow. Still, the good vibes are strong and the celebratory mood is palpable throughout.
Here are five lyrics that introduce you to some of the party’s most colorful patrons.
‘Stepkids‘
The beat explodes into a wonderland full of whimsy, as if a Dr. Seuss book had suddenly come to life. ‘Stepkids’ is a proper title as the samples are borrowed from a long history of like-minded musical misfits, some widely known and revered others mysterious and obscure. Jennifer Herrema captains the ship and adds her own flavor, an unorthodox voice that cozies up nicely with the beat:
‘The Noisy Eater‘
Who better to talk about noisy eaters than the human beat box machine himself Biz Markie? The beat is a wild, bombastic carnival ride with all the sights and sounds that come with a shindig of this magnitude. The samples come pouring in like confetti, from Cookie Monster to a children’s choir covering the Beatles. Then there’s the Biz, the biggest kid on the block with enough candor to take the hijinks to the next level:
‘If I Was a Folkstar‘
Commissioning Toro Y Moi guarantees three things — dreamy pop sequences, a gaggle of synth work and lofty, near unintelligible lyrics. Here we get all three, bouncing around together like it were soundtracking a Wes Anderson flick. The samples aren’t as layered as others, but that’s so the backdrop can settle into a more streamlined groove. Lyrically, Toro Y Moi adds a softness to it that doesn’t necessarily work in its favor. A little less romance and a little more substance would have gone a long way:
‘Frankie Sinatra‘
Two lyrical champions meet in a hall of fun house mirrors. The circus theme reemerges, but sticks around longer than it needs to; it doesn’t gel as well compared to other songs. With two titans laying down such potent fire, something a little nastier would have fit the mood better. It suites Danny Brown more because of his near-comical pitch, but works in contrast to Doom‘s grizzly demeanor. The beat is fresh, but caters to one lyricist more than the other:
‘Saturday Night Inside Out‘
Lean craftsmanship by the Avalanches create a supple cloud for David Berman to float away on. He’s letting the verse flow freely and the memories come rolling out like a bunch of Jesse White tumblers. There’s a melodic groove and enough space in between verses to let the feel good vibes marinate. A solid song that bookends a wild ride through Avalanche territory:
