Fjords are a Boston-based duo cranking out some outer space worthy music. Consisting of Jon Davies on electric guitars and Tyler Taormina on keyboards, this two-man band manages to conjure up a lot more atmosphere than some groups three times their size. “April Fjords” is their first physical release following a digital only debut on their Bandcamp page, but it seems like they already have a good handle on their process. Over three long tracks, you get a solid idea of what kind of sonic stew Fjords can create, and it’s a good one.
The predominant sound on this tape is best described as thick, melancholy drone with some more standard instrumental touches and a nice smattering of krautrock (at its more abstract ends, anyway). The three songs repeat on both sides of the tape, yet each side has different version of the closing song, “IX,” one with scratchy, Velvet Underground-y violin and one without. I’m all about hearing lots of different things from any particular band, but really this variation seems a little unnecessary, given that the violin is a pretty nice addition in the full version. Preceding that song, you get a powerful haze of guitar and keyboard on the other two pieces, “Fjords Mining Co.” and “Fizzy Lifting Drinks.” The sounds of the instruments are all over the place and sometimes you can tell exactly what instruments you’re listening to, while in other moments the effects are so heavy that it’s anyone’s guess who is playing what. Regardless, everything blends together to good effect, so you can still enjoy the music whether you want to puzzle over the logistics of it or not.
In any event, this is a strong release from a promising new band. And as is par for the course, this tape is pretty limited, so get your hands on a copy now so you can tell all your friends later on that you were hip to these guys before they blew up.
