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Whispering Campaign “In my review of Tulipomania’s 2002 self-titled debut,
I described their atmospheric music as ‘dramatic, foreboding,
and gripping,’ and those attributes still hold true on this
even better third LP. As on 2007’s Anamorphic, frontman Tom
Murray handles both guitars (taking over those duties from original
member Mitch Smith) and bass. And like before, those dark, shadowy
guitars gnash and bite like buzzsaws, while the deliberately paced
grooves are sinister and repetitive. Meanwhile, Cheryl Gelover’s
spacious, ghostly synths are more omnipresent, gradually building
the tension and trepidation until the listener becomes totally
absorbed. Finally, I’ve wholly succumbed to Murray’s
oddly pitched, discomforting vocals, finding that they perfectly
suit the music’s anxiety-filled vibe. His one-of-a-kind trill
ensures that songs such as “Shape Me Up” and “Halfway
Point” resemble nothing else out there.” Mark Suppanz The Big Takeover, Issue 69
"Anamorphic" cinematographers and photographers squeeze wide angles into small frames using a special lens. So, too, does this Greater Philadelphia band centered on worker bee Tom Murray (doing double duty on guitars and bass). Their gnarly, noisy guitars expand, not contract, the sonic waves over strict, heavy-discipline, mid-tempo dance rhythms. Having grown bored of today's angular, stripped-down post-punk dance rock revival mania, I nevertheless find Tulipomania completely, oppositely refreshing–because of Murray's guitars, guitars, guitars! They're gnashing, violent, dark, and distorted, yet so spread-out, it's like some unearthed third cousin of Steve Albini circa "Kerosene," old Effigies guitarist Earl Letiecq circa "Security," or Geordie Walker of Killing Joke circa "Tension." The grooves are mean and repetitive, so they start to get to you too, as Murray's heaving vocals sound like a man being punched in the stomach while smoking. Stand up and take your punishment. Review by Jack Rabid Publsher/Editor - The Big Takeover issue No. 60 |
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Howard Thompson's - NorthForkSound radio WPKN program archive - Pure - recent episodes NorthForkSound.com - blog Reverendo - ETC on - oi FM - Poploaded - Podcast The Big Takeover - The Whispering Campaign - review The Sentimentalist - Whispering Campaign review The Orange Flavored Pipe Machine - Blog Dandelion Radio - Neil Jenkins l'Apartament18 - The Whispering Campaign - review This is Offset - Offset Festival Enthusiasm - Marc Robinson's - blog KRFC, Radio Free Colorado - blog Losing Today - Anamorphic review The Quaker Goes Deaf - Anamorphic review
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