ADULT ALTERNATIVE REVIEW
by John Rose

VARNALINE

(click above to purchase)
"Songs In Northern Key" (Artemis)

1) "STILL DREAM"(3) "Dear Prudence"lead in. Beautiful
acoustic work with mandolin backing.

2) "SONG" (2+) Guitars ring at the Post-Punk genre.
Anders Parker's vocals remind of Wilco's Jeff Tweedy.

3) "INDIAN SUMMER TAKEDOWN" (3) Hypnotic percussion.

4) "BLACKBIRD FIELD" (4-) Nice segue from opening feedback
to acoustic guitars. Interesting keyboard(?) effect.

5) "BLUE FLOWERS ON THE HIGHWAY" (2+) This track would
fit in on early Pink Floyd albums.

6) "THE DRUNKARD WISH" (1) Just an instrumental interlude.

7) "DIFFERENCE" (4) I like the strumming guitars against the
drum beat. Cool "spaceout" midsong.

8) "ANYTHING FROM NOW" (3) Distortion reminiscent of the work
on My Bloody Valentine"Loveless"LP.

9) "DOWN THE STREET" (2) More Wilco-like vocals.

10) "GREEN-EYED STARS" (3) Lyrics are hidden in the melody (early REM)
but it works.

11) "SISTER AND THE CHROME WAVES" (1) Short San Tropez
guitar wrangly.

12) "I DON'T WANT" (2+) Interesting chimes insert. Funeral derge-
type tempo.

13) "LET IT ALL COME DOWN" (3+) More of the thick distortion like
"Anything From Now".

14) "BROKEN SONG" (3+) Very down tempo. Nice to hear a duet.

15) "MURDER CREW" (2+) Very similar sound to the opener.

OVERALL COMMENTS: This album weaves a surrealistic atonal web
Not unlike Coldplay's "Parachute". Very original overall.

OVERALL RATING: 3+