CAM072CD - Oyvind Holm - "The Vanishing Act" Solo



	Artist: Øyvind Holm Release Title: The Vanishing Act Catalogue Number: CAM072CD Format: CD Length: 10 tracks, 36:21 mins Release Date: 01 Jul 05 (US$15.00 shipped anywhere)
The somewhat ironically titled "The Vanishing Act" finds the leader of Norwegian psychedelic pop band Dipsomaniacs stepping out from underneath the band's symbiotic umbrella. It's an act Øyvind Holm has nearly performed before (only not as visibly), having masterminded and executed the debut Dipsomaniacs release "Bumble-Bee Eyes" solo in 1997. Holm then recruited three gifted musicians to fill out the band's sound and five true Dipsomaniacs band efforts followed, each achieving more international critical acclaim than its predecessor, most recently with "Praying Winter" (Camera Obscura 2003). Whether with his band or as a solo artist, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Holm makes no effort to hide his passion for the clever lyric, melodic beauty and sonic innovation that characterized the music of the mid to late '60s, as well the artists since who have followed in those hazy, flowery paths. With "The Vanishing Act", Holm layers his Lennonesque vocals over sweet melodies that often conceal a bitterness buried within the poetic lyrics. Like those classic albums from psychedelic pop's Golden Age, The Vanishing Act celebrates psychedelia, pure folk, buoyant pop, melodic surf rock and blues forms simultaneously as if they were never meant to be parsed into distinct genres. The Eastern nuances of the title track (one of two co-written with fellow Norwegian Bent Sæther of Motorpsycho) mingle seamlessly with chiming 12-string. Lap steel and piano lend ethereal and jazzy overtones respectively to "Cut Me Loose". Surf rocker "Seven Years" pulses furiously over gentle backing vocal waves. Given Holm's well-known affinity for those most notable'60s mop tops, it's not surprising that his solo debut carries a few nods to the fabs as they split off into their own directions - The effortless bounce and handmade percussion of "Neighborhood Watch Parole", the acrimony of "(A Good Taste of) Everything," and the Harrison-worthy spirituality which saturates both "The Skeleton Key Pt. 2" and the title track. Throw in a reverence for the mad genius of Syd Barrett, the social commentary of Ray Davies and the innovative West Coast fusions concocted by Love and the Byrds and you have an inkling of Holm's muse. With melody and poetry the primary characters and inspired arrangements the supporting cast, Øyvind Holm's The Vanishing Act more than merits a the attention of both fans of vintage psychedelia and the best in modern pop song-craft.

Other resources: Dipsomaniacs Web Site CAM047CD - Dipsomaniacs - "Stethoscopic Notion" CAM062CD - Dipsomaniacs - "Praying Winter" MP3s from this release can be found here

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