Yeah, i thought it was disgustingly, sickeningly over-experimental on the first listen, almost to the point of Marnie Stern. The funny thing is, that's really just a first impression. It's not actually the truth. What we have here is a fantastic indie pop record. Once you become accustomed to their sound, then the record's strong melodic qualities start to seep in, along with the beauty of the rhythms and harmonies, and the rest is history.
What most intrigued me about the record was how, despite being at the heart of it an indie/alt rock album, it somehow managed to be so fascinatingly hip-hop, soul and r&b. From the vocals to the rhythms to the scales, the influence of black music is rife and the effect is absorbing, captivating, irresistible.
I still think Veckatimest reigns supreme in 2009 and is unlikely to be topped by a damned thing, but Bitte Orca is a sure 9/10 if ever there was one.
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