I love surprises when it comes to music. There are few greater pleasures than to be bowled over by a new album from an artist whose work was unknown to you before that first listen. American Whip by Joy Zipper (New York couple consisting of Tabitha Tindale and Vincent Cafiso) had this effect on me. Although they have been around for a while (this being their second album), our paths hadn't crossed before. They may have done so sooner if the release of this album had not been delayed due to legal wrangles at their 13 Amp label, which is owned by David Holmes.
Holmes contributed production duties to a handful of tracks, but is not the only well-known name to participate in the making of the record. Guy Fixsen of Laika also helped out on one track, and Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) gave the band the benefit of his wisdom on others. It's funny how Shields was out of the public eye for so long but now seems to be omnipresent, what with the Lost in Translation soundtrack, work with Primal Scream, production duties with other bands, and the soon-to-be released collection of My Bloody Valentine EPs. This is fully justified when you consider the influence MBV had on the modern music scene, and indeed their influence can be detected on this collection. Ironically, the track which is most reminiscent of Shields' outfit "Baby You Should Know" is not one of those he contributed to.
Other bands which have influenced Joy Zipper would have to include The Beach Boys for their sweet harmonies, The Breeders for their keen sense of melody, and Air for their atmospheric sonic landscapes. Vincent and Tabitha have managed to transcend these influences and have created a stunning album, a combination of beautiful songs and dreamy, blissed-out instrumentation full of interesting details and arrangements. There are some outstanding songs on the album; the melody on "Christmas Song" is heart-wrenchingly beautiful and the duo trade verses to great effect on "Out of the Sun."
The classic trick of melding bitter-sweet lyrics to beautiful music is adopted to powerful effect. On "33x" Tabitha sings the words "I'm getting tired of life" to a melody that suggests she's anything but, while the lyrics to the aforementioned "Christmas Song" are surely to be interpreted as the words of a stalker. "Alzheimers" is a touching song with a painful undercurrent about that affliction of the elderly set to gorgeously shifting keyboards.
This is a great record. It's strong on melody, while also being emotionally and lyrically complex. It's the perfect soundtrack to a drugged-out summer's day; music for the head and the heart. Let Joy Zipper into your life — they might just surprise you, too.
1. Sunstroke
2. Christmas Song
3. Baby You Should Know
4. 33x
5. Out of the Sun
6. Drugs
7. Dosed and Became Invisible
8. Alzheimers
9. Ron
10. In the Never Ending Search for a Suitable Enemy
11. VSX
12. Valley Stream
More about: Joy Zipper
