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Robert PollardFrom A Compound Eye Merge/Spunk!/Inertia Bob Pollard is, to all extents and purposes, Guided By Voices. I felt it important to mention this upfront, since not nearly enough people buy GBV records in this country as it is and I'd hate for that small but tasteful group to accidentally overlook this disc. It's his first record since calling time on his band last year and on the plus side, 'From A Compound Eye' is often brilliant. Pollard's recaptured the experimental and often lo-fi aesthetic of his "classic" early 90s period (listen to the damn-near indescipherable 50 Year Old Baby), while also maintaining the rockin' band sound of the last few GBV albums (the mighty I'm A Widow, the chugging guitars of I Surround You Naked), as well as some great songs that sound like something different again such as the strident, brilliant Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft. On the minus side, 26 songs is a lot to take on board; but then again any GBV fan would be used to getting a generous helping with their records. Even so, there are - inevitably - a few sketches that are still a bridge shy of a song, like Kick Me And Cancel or I'm A Strong Lion. In all, though, Pollard's the indie version of those "heritage" acts like Paul McCartney or Elvis Costello whose core audience has already made their mind up and will pretty much buy everything they produce, but are unlikely to snare new fans at this stage of the game. Few people who aren't already enamoured of GBV is going to buy 'From A Compound Eye' no matter how great it is. So, my advice to the 14 year old indie kid reading this that is about to fall in love with their favourite band ever: grab the 'Human Amusements At Hourly Rates' GBV best of, then this, then 'Bee Thousand'. You'll work it out from there.  |
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