Perfectomundo: Waiting For 2012
By Ania Glowacz
This one could be a little misleading. Despite the title, it's not a new age concept album themed on the critical events predicted for 2012, it's much more personal. In fact it's very homely, a little earthy and a bit space cadet. Perfectomundo hail from the Bay Of Plenty with Santi Rebagliati on guitars/vocals/synths, Brett Stanton on drums and Paul Bloxham on bass, with some vocal assistance - Morgan McAneny on bvs and a rap from Rogan on the reggae-tinged track Spirituality. Musically there's quite a lot of different stuff going on, which keeps things interesting. The two aspects that are impossible to escape from with this album are the overwhelming '70s influences (a touch of Pink Floyd, Dragon, the Eagles, even early UK punk…) and the weak vocals. It's annoying really because it's not so much that Santi can't sing, it's just almost flat, and quite strained in places. I'd say undeveloped rather than anything else, but it is ultimately the downfall of this album. The recording probably doesn't help with the vocals too far forward to pull it off. I kept thinking '70s pub rock, with resident bands that could (and had to) play anything. This means that the music is full of little flourishes and very competent playing, a lead break here, a Spanish guitar intro on The Right Place At The Right Time… The lyrics are okay, and despite the criticism above, the album did start to grow on me. Recorded in their living room, it is certainly an achievement. There's more of a happy than heavy vibe, and a bonus reprise of Yellow Flower which is fully recycled '70s disco.
Related Information
