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Album Details

• Artist: Margot & The Nuclear So And So's
• Album: The Dust Of Retreat
• Label: V2
• Year of Release: 2006
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dadair on 2006-11-02

Eerie Four Tet style ambience seeps into the air around you and 'A sea shanty of sorts' opens up the world of this earnest outfit from the Midwest of America. The calming vocals of Richard Edwards bobbles up and down on a slow wave of coating guitars, subtle percussion and punctuating backing vocals to ooze heart and soul. 'Skeleton key' slides into the pop slipstream of Okkervil River and Paul Simon for some song and emotion building that bears out the independent and thoughtful nature of this group. The understanding between the two lead men of Edwards and Andy Fry belies a chance meeting in a pet shop just over two years ago. 'Quiet as a Mouse' illuminates their musical compactness and ability to deal out a pulsating power ballad.
The dark and brooding side of Margot & the nuclear so and so's is slowly delivered from a parcel of acoustic guitars and crisp vocals through 'Jen is bringing me drugs'. The mood drops along with the musical notes to draw a sullen veil over matters. Flighty, flower pop/indie will continue to blossom if it keeps on being delivered with some Mercury Rev style strolling and lyrical force, as in 'On A Freezing Chicago Street';

"We got drunk on cheap red wine in a paper cup,
and I was barely awake when you got home
and climbed yourself into bed with cheap perfume.
And, Sarah screamed your every breath is a gift, if you weren't so selfish then you might wanna live."

Having fixed you into a state of dreaminess and morbidity, the guys decide to crank things up and get their funk on, in 'Barfight revolution, power violence' to shake things up nicely. Wistfulness returns in 'A Light On A Hill' and the acoustic mastery hits a nadir to draw out the emotion. With albums being rushed out like Christmas decorations these days; this offering speaks of a leisurely approach with the focus being placed upon veracity and craftsmanship.

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