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Nov 29, 2010 Issue #33 - Fall 2010 - Interpol By Chris Drabick

Los Angeles duo Pepper Rabbit self-released a pair of digital-only EPs in 2009. Those recordings were enough to get some buzz working for Xander Singh and Luc Laurent, and some subsequent touring brought them to the attention of Kanine Records. Rather than waiting around for a new record, Kanine plugs the gap by releasing the EPs (augmented with two newer tracks) as their debut album Beauregard.

Normally this sort of re-release strategy would seem a bit unwarranted, but these are some strong tracks that definitely deserve a wider audience. Singh and Laurent have an easy way with large but unexpected arrangements, bouncing from banjo, trumpet, xylophone, and clarinet, sometimes within the same song (witness the bouncy new song “Snowalker” or the absolutely lovely “Harvest Moon”—not a Neil Young cover, by the way). What’s most striking is that it’s never bluster for bluster’s sake. Quite the contrary, as Singh’s strongest melodies (“None Shall Sleep,” “In the Spirit of Beauregard,” as well as the aforementioned tracks) would work just as well with far less adornment. They do know when to dial things down a bit, as the record’s other newer song “Older Brother,” with its gently strummed ukulele intro attests. But Beauregard is at its most fun when Singh and Laurent kick up a meaty ruckus, something they’re thankfully unafraid to do. A talented pair that bears close scrutiny going forward. (www.myspace.com/pepperrabbit)

Author rating: 7/10