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Daguerreotypes: Tropical Trust [Album Review]

daguerreotypes

A daguerreotype is an early type of photograph in which, according to Wikipedia, “an image is exposed directly onto a mirror-polished surface of silver bearing a coating of silver halide particles deposited by iodine vapor.” Like the type of photograph, Daguerreotypes the band possessing the same name does not draw influence from the earliest of rock trailblazers; but they do take a unique direction on what is considered standard these days.

daguerreotypes

Daguerreotypes is not only difficult to pronounce, their music is hard to classify: indie pop collides with prog, classic rock plunged into a river of psychedelic pop, heavy reverb meets driving percussion for a romantic scuffle in the forest dirt. “Dark Fence” opens Tropical Trust and vocal vibrato echoes in long tonal lyrics belted in a very classic 70s style.

At times the percussion is jazzy, particularly in “Continental” where the drummer rides the top-hat. Keys follow suit—they’re off-beat in a somewhat Lyle Mays sort of way. Daguerreotypes is sometimes spacey and atmospheric, but not in a shoegazey way. “Telegram To Tegucigalpa” and the opening guitars in “Bride Of Daggers” show this nicely. It’s a very unique take on old-style classic rock prog with a new twist.

Surprisingly, the group is from Seattle. Listening to Tropical Trust, one would think they were from the southeast, or maybe even the northeast… somewhere east-coastal, but not densely populated. It’ll be interesting to hear where they go next—sure, a full length is currently or will soon be in the works, but it’s the music inside that sparks this writer’s curiosity.

This review was originally published July 2, 2008 on the old version of FensePost.

Tropical Trust by Daguerreotypes

Auger Down Records [CDEP, 2008]

1. Dark Fence
2. Continental
3. Aggravated Myth
4. Telegram To Tegucigalpa
5. Bride Of Daggers

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