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    Opus 2004/Dudley
    Dudley — Seasonal cover

    Dudley

    Seasonal

    (2003)

    Reviewed by Jason Morehead

    Discogs
    Label Autres Directions in MusicOpus2004
    electronictrip hop

    Originally published at Opus →

    The LP's nine songs are tender little creations, composed of graceful guitar melodies and light hip-hop beats, with exotic little synth bits and pieces strewn about here and there like falling leaves.

    My fave track, "Fall Song", even incorporates a gorgeous orchestral sample amidst its meandering flamenco guitar, something that I couldn't get out of my head for days after hearing it. Elsewhere, "Little Whirl" engages in, well, a whirl of metallic, gamelan-like tones, and there's a forlorn, windswept beauty to tracks like "With Rain," with its desolate flute and acoustic guitar.

    I don't really know if there's an official name for this sort of stuff -- "bedroomtronica" might be apt, though that seems a bit precocious -- but it does remind me of Darla's "drum n' bliss" output during the late 90s. Indeed, the disc reminds me of the first time I discovered Color Filter or Junior Varsity KM.

    It's too bad the word "pleasant" has taken on such a middling connotation these days, because it sums up this CD quite nicely -- and I mean that in every good way imaginable.

    Also in Opus 2004

    2004Worm Is GreenAutomagic2001OysterheadThe Grand Pecking Order2002Cranked Up!A Call for Solidarity2003I Am Robot and ProudGrace Days2004Nanook of the NorthThe Täby Tapes2004Animal CollectiveSung Tongs