Album Details

• Artist: Sic Alps
• Album: A Long Way Around To A Shortcut
• Label: ADR
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2008-06-06

It is amazing how often these days that a few guys in a basement can crank out records of

surprising variety and invention that put the studio players to shame. Lack of funds never has to

slow down inspiration, as DIY'ers have been showing for ages now. Sic Alps are just the latest

to prove that. "A Long Way Around To A Shortcut," a collection of the various 7 and 12 inch

records the band has released at a furious clip since 2006, is a lo-fi gem of distorted guitar,

killer hooks psych freakouts, all recorded on 8-track. Guitarist Mike Donovan and drummer

Matthew Hartman manage to create a whole funky, loud world, with murky lulls and introverted

musings. There is a lot to chew on here (25+ tracks) but nearly all have their inspired moments.

Noisy would-be classics (in a better world) "Message From The Law" and "The Drake" mingle

with the garage-y locomotion of "Love is Strange" and "C'mon Pup." Most of the songs use

various genres as a jumping off point, literally. Songs structures have a shaky existence on many

cuts, but the band remains tight; you can always tell the difference between bands that dare to cut

loose of convention and those who try hard to be seen as daring. Sic Alps are the real deal.

"A Long Way Around To A Shortcut" is not as consistently noisy and revelatory as their

"Pleasures and Treasures" full-length debut, but it is close. The band wastes little space on other

people's nuggets and spews out a slew of their own.

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