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PT002: Feyodor
- Blind photos and the lemon Tuesday (2001)(Home recordings
1999/2000/2001. Mastered at Saltlick Studios).
1.Sometimes money says I love you 2.Cry angel 3.Sandpit
4.Feed the birds 5.She's vivacious 6.Tempest
deepest 7.Don't mess with the dude 8.Six feet
under snow 9.Wear my coat 10.Minor infactuation 11.Saltwater television
12.Be fine 13.Sinister intentions of a $3 tea 14.Disappear
15.The displaced people are scared 16.How you? 17.Wear my coat (live)
18.Pyjama day 19.Toilet as an ashtray
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US: $13.95
NZ: $20.00
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PT000: Feyodor
- Be fine (Available upon request)(2000).(Recorded 1999-2000 on
n track, released 2000).
1.Be fine 2.Disappear
3.Wear my coat 4.Like blue 5.Cream 6.Reprise
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US: $7.95
NZ: $10.00
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REVIEWS
ABSORBED.CO.NZ: 7th September 2004.Feyodor
Aggressive Pedestrian Powertool Records Feyodor, the side project
of Ben Barrett from Auckland band Joed
Out, displays a softer melodic pop side, than the D.I.Y alternative
rock approach a` la Flying Nun of the latter. This is Feyodor’s
second full release, recorded during Barrett’s O.E. in Finland
and enlists the help of Powertool records label-mate Mikael
H and the ‘Siberians’. The Finns must have exceptional
talents outside of rally driving, as Aggressive Pedestrian is a superbly
produced album and Mikael and friends contribute much more than your
average session musicians. That is not to undermine the song writing skills
of Ben Barrett, whose charming prose is easily warmed to. The opening
track ‘Don’t Mess with the dude’ with lyrics “Tomorrow’s always sunny/ I’ll
sit on the grass and drink lemon and honey” comes off reminiscent of the ‘Shoe-Gazing’
style of Pavement and The Eels. However this optimistic outlook
darkens at times, through the melancholic balladry of 'Sandpit' (“Crying when
there’s nothing left to be said/and it only shows this sandpit we have to
outgrow”) and takes a pragmatic approach on 'Sun City' (“I say Intelligence
works better than romance/you could try arrogance but she might take offence”).
The vocals plateau at a whining croon throughout the most of the album, which
tends to get tiresome and often falls short of fulfilling the songs’ potential.
In any instance though, the instrumental backing sets a lustrous mood of warmth
through a variety of forms. From the silky touch of brushes on the skins to
the mellifluous string arrangements, Feyodor takes much benefit from
the inventive yet precise musicianship of the Finnish backing band. This is
an accomplished effort from a proficient songwriter who must have gained invaluable
enlightenment from the recording experience. Whether this comes through on
his next album will remain to be seen, but on this effort, Feyodor
has hit the mark, with a little help from his friends.(8 out of 10)-Yeti
NZ MUSICIAN: Feyodor: Blind Photos and the Lemon Tuesday An
eclectic collection of songs, in all their glorious home studio raw reality.
Feyodor is the alter ego of Ben Barrett, from Auckland indie
band Joed Out and this is a compilation of
his home recording efforts, using computer, and the humble four-track - with
those songs standing up remarkably well alongside their digital counterparts
- a credit to the mastering at Saltlick Studios. The song styles range
from mesmeric folk/pop, to intensely distorted guitar with frenetic rhythm
undergirding, and innovative use of ambient sounds. A bit tricky to hear the
words at times, so a lyric sheet would have helped, but what I did pick up
demonstrated crafted, sometimes esoteric songwriting. Instruments played mainly
by Barrett, but with contributions from Andrew Maitai and Matt Backhouse.
Certainly not mainstream, but okay if you're tired of plastic sounds, compressed
out of all reality. A part of the spectrum that makes NZ music so interesting.
Released by Powertool Records. Contact: ben_barrett@hotmail.com
• Tim Page
