Arab Strap
The Red Thread
Matador Records
Arab Strap's The Red Thread begins similarly to past releases with the slow/surly/sparse/sexual "Amor Veneris." Then from the second
track forward,
The Red Thread far surpasses their previous work, because it is anchored to an array of sparse drum machine techniques ranging from reverbed downtempo to danceable electro.
Arab Strap's Scottish gloom has always been hypnotic and remarkably powerful due to the group's tasteful and diverse instrumentation, meandering arrangements, and a sense of imagery and storytelling of the sort found only in the best songwriters. They've moved ahead of most
others in the slow and quiet set, thanks largely to those solid and simple rhythm loops. This review seems a bit sensational but it's completely genuine as
The Red Thread was pretty much my favorite
album of 2001.
Justin Sinkovich
last updated:
02/21/02
