The Sea & Cake
Oui
»
The Sea & Cake
Oui
Thrill Jockey, 2000
RiYL: Stereolab, Jim O'Rourke, Steely Dan, Tortoise |
Is this record a return to the fabulous form of the early TSAC? Have the electronic leanings overindulged on The Fawn retreated into the background where they belong? Will these songs sound great on the band's first tour in ages? Oui!
All us indie elites got spoiled during the Cake's early years, when they put out three brain-busting albums in the span of slightly less than two years, and have been hurting since the long wait for the somewhat disappointing The Fawn. Sure, the time off has led to some fantastic solo material from TSAC's Archer Prewitt and Sam Prekop, as well as giving drummer John McEntire the opportunity to produce most of the western world. But there's a certain magic these three, along with trusty bassist Eric Claridge, possess that you can't get anywhere else.
Oui splendidly mixes the immediacy of TSAC's masterwork, The Biz, with the creamier production of The Fawn. The result is a corking listen, effortless, breathy pop music that you just have to close your eyes and smile to. Prekop and Prewitt show the well-roundedness their solo careers have helped to develop with some of their finest guitar work to date, while McEntire doubles duties, providing mighty drumwork, well-placed synth lines, and exemplary, full-sounding but cloud-light production.
All of the best aspects of the band we've seen in the past return on Oui. Heart-tugging ballads, tearingly beautiful instrumentals, snazzy pop rockers, it's all here. Prekop's vocals, a tad lost on The Fawn and somewhat subdued on his solo record, are back with a vengence. Prewitt's clean guitar lines are as magnificent as ever. Claridge's bass tugs right along. McEntire goes nuts, providing drums that tumble one minute and lightly tap the next, and layering electronic sounds that will send analog keyboard nuts running to eBay.
"Seemingly" and the upper-crust instrumental "You Beautiful Bastard" really stand out, but the whole album drips with craftsmanlike perfection and relaxed greatness. Roll out the superlatives, kids, because Oui gives Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP a run for its money in the 2000 album of the year stakes. The only problem is that it's all over too quickly. Guess we'll have to wait for the Japanese import, which no doubt will add four or five unbelievable new tracks that you'll have to pay 30 bucks to hear.
MARK T.R. DONOHUE | Mark T.R. Donohue is a prolific freelance writer whose areas of expertise include Rockies baseball, video games, genre television, English soccer, and pub rock. He lives in Colorado, where he cultivates the largest and creepiest private collection of Alyson Hannigan memorabilia in the Mountain West.