Kausal
In dead cities
Version Studio
I'll say one thing for Stockholm's Kausal: they've got the potential to make someone a lot of money. See, listening repeatedly to "In dead cities" has made me realise that there's a niche market ready for the budding entrepreneur to exploit. Here's the basic pitch: buy the rights to "In dead cities" and then start up a new label that proclaims to have the cure for sleepless nights. As word of its success spreads, millions of baggy-eyed insomniacs will begin to scoop the album up until demand is such that outlets will barely be able to keep up with orders. $$$! Okay, maybe that's a bit harsh. Kausal are an alright band in that whole ponderous, shoegazey universe that they reside in and they do have some moments of... alrightness... But, bloody hell, it's tedious stuff. There are some genuinely nice moments on the album, it must be said. You know those moments when you hear a guitar part and you think, "Oh, wow. Now that's a cool little section," and when it ends you kinda wish the band had played it just that tiny bit longer? You don't get those on "In dead cities". You get the, "Oh, wow. Now that's a cool little section," alright. But, instead of wishing it would run a little longer you find yourself thinking, "Jesus, is this ever going to end?" And it never does! Or, at least, it seems that way. I definitely found myself gazing at my shoes more than usual after listening to this, but that was because my head kept dropping as I fought to stay awake for the whole forty days -- sorry, minutes -- or so of this album. Way, way, way too boring!
- John Norby
