Review: The Intelligence – Fake Surfers
The Intelligence – Fake Surfers (2009) [In The Red] // Grade: C+
Seattle lo-fi quartet The Intelligence have taken off their dark shades with their newest release, Fake Surfers, and embraced pop references over the doomsday tendencies of 2007′s Deuteronomy.
While past releases found the band mingling post-punk roots with garage execution and a healthy dose of noise, Fake Surfers lives up to its title, full of fuzzy ambiance and distorted surf rock. To limit description of the album’s sound to a single genre would be selling this release short. Elements of noise pop and British rock mix with surf stylings and just enough of the lo-fi punk meets garage sound the act is known for to keep long-time fans from crying foul.
Those unfamiliar with The Intelligence might feel Fake Surfers is more noise than pop, but this is a band with a knack for hiding melodies underneath a wall of sound. Both “Warm Transfers” and “Thank You God For Fixing The Tape” are perfect examples of this dynamic at play. The music of The Intelligence has always required a bit of patience to fully process, and Fake Surfers, with its wide range of reference points, is a complex album that necessitates several listens.
