We are based in the UK but have a world view when it comes to the albums and EPs we review. From Australia to Canada, from Brazil to Ireland and Spain, we’ve traveled far and wide with our reviewing.
Time and time again we seem to end up in the humungous US state of Ohio. Some of our favourite bands , such as Guided By Voices, Devo and The Breeders are from there. One of our favourite music blogs, The Indie Handbook is located there. And last year we made a new favourite band discovery, Columbus, Ohio’s wonderful Obviouslies.
At the start of 2012 we find ourselves back in Ohio, after being sent Summer Viking, the 12th release from Cleveland’s Gomez Addams (pictured). We are not quite sure what Gomez’s real name is. He wouldn’t tell us when we emailed him. We think its Joey though from a few Google searches. He did tell us though that by day he is an early American history teacher, something he loves. There is every possibility he also admires The Addams Family, having named himself after its rakish lead character.
He has never been signed by a record label since he started putting out releases in 2006, but admits that “I suppose part of me aspires to be signed”. If he were to be signed he’d still want to teach as well as put out music. Since he already does both he’s not entirely sure what a record label could do for him. Promotion is one area that perhaps a label could help him with. He adds: “it would be nice to have some additional word of mouth and support. It’s hard to do it alone.”
Summer Viking is a slight departure in being entirely written, played and recorded by Gomez in his basement. On previous releases he has been supported on instrumentation by occasional co-writer Daniel Eli Weiss.
To put it bluntly I love it. Its got a lo-fi edge, with a slice of humour and full of sixties garage band influences. A little like a softer Guided By Voices, a slicker version of Box Elders and a less Kanye West inspired Bon Iver.
There’s some fine guitar riffs, not showy, just right. There’s also a whole bunch of history as you’d expect, with Andrew Jackson and the US government’s treatment of native Americans getting mentions.
Title track and opener is among a number of highlights, setting the blue print for his sound – angsty introspective vocals and guitar lashed in vintage reverb with simple, shuffling Ringo-esque drumming.
Track two ‘Teacher’, is perhaps my favourite and about Gomez himself, a history teacher who puts too much reverb on his voice so people can’t hear it properly, has a fear of elevators and wants to go to Europe “to drink lots of coffee and ice cream.”
Perhaps if he ever gets signed a European tour, during the school holidays naturally, could be a possibility. On this evidence he’d certainly receive a warm welcome.
8/10
by Joe Lepper
Summer Viking is available for free download here.
by Joe Lepper
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