Welcome to something wonderful. Radio DDR is the solo project of Chicago's Kai Slater, guitarist with the much noisier Lifeguard and provider of the Hallogallo fanzine. The album was released last year, but now gets a more fully fledged release with 3 Bonus Tracks, intended to be singles.
This lands somewhere between Indie Guitar Pop and Pop Rock. There is tons of Jangle Pop present, but the main take is sheer melody. There aren't enough catchy songs in the world and this provides an overload of such. Certainly, these are needed in these strange times.
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Production wise, the album will be compared to Guided By Voices, sort of mid hi-fi, but Slater's versatility outshines everything. That gentle vocal could sing the phone book, if there is such a thing now, but the material spans everywhere from Merseybeat to Scuzzy 90s Rock. Psych Pop to West Coast Jangle. The La's to Teenage Fanclub.
Lorelei is jaunty 70s Pop, Sycophant is 70s Acoustic Folk and Chasing Stars is the Canterbury version of it. Every Time I Hear is Glasgow Jangle and If Ever I Was Lonely is so Merseybeat. You Have A Way is very Orgone Box and Is It Better is a mix of Psych Pop and 80s Post Punk Indie.
The three new additions match the quality of the previous 11. I Can't Stop is C86, Storma Lee is Stealers Wheel doing Psych Pop and With A Girl Like Mine is mid 60s strumming melodic pop of the highest order. All add joy to that original release.
It seems a long while since I have heard so great a melodic Pop album. Inspiring riffs, memorable choruses and equally great when Acoustic or Electric. The variety is wonderful without ever losing you, an album to be listened to from start to finish.
The album is available to buy on vinyl or as a download from Friday. You can get it here, where you can listen to all 14 songs now. You can find out about Hallogallo in the archive here.
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