• Reviews

• All
• Music
• DVDs
• Live
• Cinema
• TV
• Books
• Comic Books
• Video Games

Jun 17, 2016 Caveman By Austin Trunick

Is this the same Caveman we met on 2011’s WWF-referencing Coco Beware? Is it even the same group we were re-introduced to two years later on their self-titled sophomore LP? The former was like The Beach Boys by way of The Jesus and Mary Chain, with vocal harmonies lovingly laid overtop rough-edged, shambling rhythms; the latter tightened things up a bit and brought synthesizers into the mix, but didn’t stray too far from their debut. But, what’s this? Is this… a dreamy rock epic with ever-so-slight science fiction overtones? No one saw that coming, but it’s hard to say no to their current direction once you’ve heard the results.

With that double-take out of the way, listeners will be treated to a sound which feels decided less indie rock and more rock rock. Much like Adam Granduciel with The War on Drugs’ Lost in the Dream, lead guitar and vocalist Matthew Iwanusa has strapped himself fully into Caveman’s pilot seat, writing and re-writing each track until they flowed in one cohesive collection. The effect is similar, too—Otero War is in spiritual alignment with the Granduciel’s bossgaze masterpiece. On songs such as “Life or Just Living” and “Believe,” Iwanusa comes across like Springsteen through the gauzy filter of Mojave 3. (The sweeping “Human” is more Tears for Fears than roots-rock, on the other hand.) This isn’t to say Otero‘s a solo effort-the rest of Caveman fine-tuned the record for a year before entering the studio and the fine-tuning shows through, while Albert Di Fiore supplies the songs with a wide, panoramic soundscape. (Even Iwanusa’s father supplied string arrangements for “Lean on You” and “The State of Mind.”) It lands at the perfect time of year: this is a sweeping, windows-down, 75-on-the-highway summertime record, and Caveman’s strongest yet. (www.cavemantheband.com)

Author rating: 7.5/10