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Album Reviews
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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LIZARD POOL – SPARK

Lizard Pool

Lizard Pool
Spark
Out Of Line

Finding a dark harmony between the frenetic melodies of indie rock and the depressive tones of post-punk is the artistic drive behind Lizard Pool’s second LP Spark. Through the employment of heavily synthesized backings that border on Goth-tinged dance beats, the German three-piece is able to develop a cohesion between modern and throwback without seeming like another lifeless seat on the bandwagon.

There is more in the way of originality with this album than others that simply create new songs by utilizing the techniques of ones that we never forgot. “Wave of Joy” and “Extra Mile” deliver that downcast aggression through intense bass lines that pierce through a cloud of hair spray while “Staircase Balcony” has enough ringing distortion to shake the bats clean out of the belfry. All three of these, like much of the album, are able to blend layers of synth that exceeds the Joy Division-inspired instrumentation in terms of era, but compliments that melancholy with bites of electronica that seem nearly as isolated.

However, there are moments where their particular fusion of styles is presented in such a way that it exhausts itself within the first minute. “Even Better Living” and “Bloom” both offer blissful melodies that show how the feet of their influences are spread decades apart, but offer little in substance to hold the listeners attention. Overall though, the sounds created on this album are wholly unique and infectious, even if some should have perhaps stayed in the studio a few sessions longer.



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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LIZARD POOL – SPARK

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Ryan Ruple
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The Spill Magazine is a Toronto-based online publication dedicated to covering the independent music scene with a strong focus on our thriving hometown talent. Our writers bring you up-to-date news, in-depth features on musicians and reviews for the latest CD releases. We also travel to the front lines for all local festivals including Canadian Music Week and North by Northeast. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for all daily Spill updates.
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