In a Cave

Elf Power - In a Cave

In a Cave
List Price: $16.98
Our Price: $3.98
You Save: $13.00 (77%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.87 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Listen soundtracks from this album



(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

CD Details

Artist: Elf Power
Brand: ELF POWER
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2008-03-25
Music Label: Ryko
Soundtracks:
  1. Owl Cut (White Flowers in the Sky)
  2. Spiral Stairs
  3. A Tired Army
  4. Paralyzed
  5. New Lord
  6. Softly through the Void
  7. Window to Mars
  8. The New Mythology
  9. Fried Out
  10. The Demon's Daughter
  11. Quiver and Quake
  12. Heads of Dust, Hearts of Lust
  13. Midnight Crawls Out

Music reviews of In a Cave

Music Review: I have seen you in the dark
Rating: 5 Stars

There's something deeply lovable about Elf Power, one of the former Elephant 6 bands that is still together and still making music.

And they sound remarkably fresh in their ninth full-length album, "In A Cave," which is a sprawl of deliciously catchy fuzzed-out psychpop, punctuated by the occasional foray into Krautrock and country. Basically Elf Power is doing what they have always done, and doing it well -- but that doesn't stop them from experimenting a little.

It opens with a blaze of blinding bass, which taps into an awkward little melody... right before "Owl Cut (White Flowers in the Sky)" blooms out into an evocative, bouncy melody drowned in its own fuzziness, and punctuated by stabs of hard synth. Andrew Rieger sings just loud enough to be heard: "Lightning flashing up above/white flowers in the sky... beating hearts that fell apart/they're drowning in the rain..."

Things fuzz out even further in the organ-filled melody of "Spiral Stairs," a thudding fuzzed-out sound that reminds me of catchier stoner rock. But Elf Power sticks mostly to a primary sound here -- melodic, catchy indie-pop with a sunny psychedelic edge. Sometimes you get a quirky psychedelic ballad ("they fill my heart with dust/they fill my heart with lust"), a mellow ballad, and sometimes a fuzz-laced rocker.

But they also try out some other stuff as well -- "Paralyzed" has a fast-paced country-rock sound, although the band isn't quite able to keep the psychpop edge out. And the woobly, out-to-space sound of "Window to Mars" sounds like someone tripping across a keyboard -- nice, though quite a brain-bender.

It's actually rather hard to believe that "In A Cave" is Elf Power's ninth album, because there's little staleness or stagnation in here at all. Though "New Lord" is kind of awkward-sounding, Elf Power's musical polish is all over these tunes, and they're clearly confident enough to juggle styles when they aren't interweaving them smoothly together.

The melodies are led by a stream of solid, sprightly guitar riffs -- some of them are fuzzed out and buzzy, some of them are lean and bouncy. A few songs even have a stoner-rock vibe. And they're seamlessly woven with solid drums, mellow jazzy piano, a bit of plunky banjo, and a gloriously colourful organ that comes up even in "Paralyzed." That organ really gives the whole album that sixties sound.

But what is psychpop without the psychedelic element? The album is wreathed in synth as well -- some sharp stabs at the beginning, but also wavers of shimmering keyboard carefully intertwined with the fuzzy riffs. And there are some odd samples included -- strangled instruments, creaks, strange buzzes and splutters.

And Rieger's pleasant, boyish voice slips through the music like a stream of fresh water. And despite the music's catchiness, he gives it a mildly regretful, reflective quality ("Come on down the spiral stairs/with the end of the world in your eyes/no one ever could follow you there/the corridors have crumbled behind"), in solidly written little lyrics.

"In A Cave" is Elf Power doing what they do best -- melodious, catchy psychpop, but with a few songs reflecting other styles. Definitely worth spelunking in.
More In a Cave free music reviews:
1

Description of In a Cave

Elf Power's ninth album, In A Cave, blasts them past familiar territories and lands them on exciting new terrain. One of their most psychedelic records, it offers thirteen otherworldly tracks of chugging Krautrock rhythms, sing-song pop, and harmonically dense balladry. With In A Cave these seasoned indie rockers find the perfect synthesis of their organic live performances, instinctual ensemble playing and open-hearted experimentation.

Alternative Rock CDs

Music Genres
Bestsellers in Alternative Rock CDs
Maniacal Laughter ImageBouncing Souls - Maniacal Laughter
Release date: 1996-01-26; Music CD
Best price: $30.00
Parallel Lines ImageBlondie - Parallel Lines
Release date: 1994-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $149.98
L.A. Woman ImageDoors - L.A. Woman
Release date: 1993-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $99.99
Phallus Dei ImageAmon Duul - Phallus Dei
Release date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Price in other shops: $18.98
Melrose ImageTangerine Dream - Melrose
Release date: 1990-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Private Music of Tangerine Dream ImageTangerine Dream - Private Music of Tangerine Dream
Release date: 1992-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops: $11.98
Ska Explosion [VHS] ImageSka Explosion [VHS]
Cleopatra; Release date: 1995-02-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops: $16.98
Little Earthquakes [VHS] ImageLittle Earthquakes [VHS]
Atlantic / Wea; Release date: 1992-11-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.50
Price in other shops: $16.98
Exile ImageExile
by Geoffrey Oryema
Music CD
Best price: $4.95
Louder Than Live [VHS] ImageSoundgarden - Louder Than Live [VHS]
A&M Video; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $192.68
Similar CDs
Days ImageReal Estate - Days
Release date: 2011-10-18; Music CD
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops: $13.98
The King of Limbs ImageRadiohead - The King of Limbs
Release date: 2011-03-29; Music CD
Best price: $7.15
Price in other shops: $11.98
Walking With the Beggar Boys ImageElf Power - Walking With the Beggar Boys
Release date: 2004-04-06; Music CD
Best price: $4.80
Price in other shops: $18.98
Green Imagination ImageSunshine Fix - Green Imagination
Release date: 2004-08-17; Music CD
Best price: $5.67
Price in other shops: $13.98
Asleep at Heaven's Gate ImageRogue Wave - Asleep at Heaven's Gate
Baker & Taylor; Release date: 2007-09-18; Music CD
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops: $13.98
Nothing's Going to Happen ImageElf Power - Nothing's Going to Happen
Release date: 2002-10-01; Music CD
Best price: $5.75
Price in other shops: $15.98
Elf Power ImageElf Power - Elf Power
Release date: 2010-09-14; Music CD
Best price: $7.85
Price in other shops: $16.98
Dream in Sound ImageElf Power - Dream in Sound
Release date: 1999-05-11; Music CD
Best price: $6.09
Price in other shops: $11.98
Back to the Web [Vinyl] ImageElf Power - Back to the Web [Vinyl]
Release date: 2006-04-25; Music CD
Best price: $15.97
Price in other shops: $15.98
Creatures ImageCreatures
by Elf Power
Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles