The Shape of Fiction

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Total Tracks: 11   Total Length: 37:46

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Mike McGonigal

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Mike McGonigal is editorial director for YETI publishing and the author of three little music books. He lives in Portland, OR, where he spends his time assembli...more »

04.22.11
Slowcore...with a TeenBeat twist.
1997 | Label: Teenbeat Records / IODA

TeenBeat's major contribution to the slowcore movement is this 1997 release from the breathy, Kentucky-based Tel Aviv. On the surface, Tel Aviv sounds similar to Mark Robinson's Unrest — at least their more moody numbers. But this is far more restrained and single-minded than that group ever were (even on this, their most varied effort). Slowly evolving guitar-based tracks segue to weird little electronic drum and melodica propelled parlor lounge pop songs. The rad thing is that these songs tend emotionally to have light and breezy resonances to them, where in almost anyone else's hands they'd be dreadfully dour ditties.

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New Wave

hamesrox

Tel Aviv's second album is a breathy, new wave treat. For fans of early 1980s electro and new wave. Produced from the dude from Romania and boy you can tell.

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TeenBeat Records

By Mike McGonigal, eMusic Contributor

Singer/guitarist Mark Robinson started the TeenBeat label in 1985 while he was still in high school in Washington, DC. From the beginning, the label embraced both pure pop and willful experimentation. Speaking very generally, the TeenBeat aesthetic is a refined, savvy take on guitar-based pop. TeenBeat specializes in the sort of releases that would be dilettantish if they were not carried off (usually) with such flare, grace and wit. The 'wit 'part is key; the… more »

They Say All Music Guide

With Tel Aviv, the habit Teenbeat’s head Mark Robinson has of signing bands that bear a resemblance to his own Unrest pays off — The Shape of Fiction breaks away from the minimal instrumental orientation of the band’s previous releases to recapture the warmth and torpor of Unrest’s most whispery moments. When the band chooses to include vocals (“I Am Particular”), the similarities are clear but largely unimportant, given Tel Aviv’s skillful use of the sound; when they stay with the delicately ringing guitar organizations of their previous records, they manage to find something equally appealing but entirely particular to their work. This makes The Shape of Fiction their best work, in some ways — it’s a bit more varied and ambitious than albums like Tel Aviv, and it hints that the band would make quite an amazing, mellow pop outfit, if they so desired. – Nitsuh Abebe

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