Caribou - Swim

Having reviewed 'Odessa' - the groovy opening track from Caribou's 'Swim' LP and now hearing that they're going to be playing this year's Bestival, I thought I'd go the whole hog and listen to the album in its entirety.


Click 'Read More' below to peruse the full review.

Like a lot of other artists trying to escape the monotonous scene music of 2009, Caribou has an incredibly unique sound that seems to smear across many different genres ranging from electronica to psychedelica. 'Swim' takes you on an affecting journey across a landscape of unfamiliar and eccentric sounds that are both perplexing and magnificent. 


Album-opener 'Odessa' is definitely the most accessible track on the record, with its catchy propulsive bass and floaty vocals it's certainly a fitting introduction. Next comes the swelling synths and alarm-like vocals of 'Sun' - an example of one of the many songs on 'Swim' that uses the vocals to give the song an almost mantra-like form that just builds and builds into a stunning crescendo.


Daniel Snaith - the man behind Caribou, had been taking swimming lessons during the album sessions (hence the title) and he's said that the record was partially influenced by how sounds change as you immerse yourself in water. He used the example of swimming front crawl with one ear being able to hear whilst the other is immersed in that watery blurriness we all know and love. This rather abstract idea has definitely rubbed off on the album as sounds are flung effortlessly around your brain. Kali is a multilayered spectacle of energetic synths and vocals, and a prime example of Caribou's eclectic and all-embracing attitude towards percussion.


'Found Out' is rather forgettable and is an example of how some songs on 'Swim' do come across as perhaps too experimental. Although the essence of spontaneity and creative experimentation definitely appeals, certain songs on 'Swim' can feel as though they have either gone on too long or a certain instrument or noise is just being endlessly adjusted and tweaked whilst we stand by and listen. 


I'm not sure if it's the slightly unsettling atmosphere the songs create or whether it's the detailed use of organic percussion but many songs on the album possess a curious tribal quality. One such song is the sinister 'Bowls' - an assured album highlight opening with bell loops and electronic harp strokes before descending into a dark and grumbling bass line. The up beat 'Leave house' sounds as though Hot Chip were left alone with a flute, a cowbell, a drum machine and some lovely mind-expanding drugs.


The peaceful throbbing of 'Lalibela' provides a much-needed and unflustered interlude of reflection on the previous chaos before album closer Jamelia.


Closing track 'Jamelia' is a personal favourite featuring the powerful and moving voice of Luke LaLonde of Born Ruffians. What starts as a calm and echoey electronic piano piece evolves into an explosive clashing of synths and vocals bringing the album to a highly satisfying climax. 


Despite 'Swim' being what I would describe as a "headphone" record with some songs coming across as untamed experimentation, there are certainly some very accessible and danceable tracks that could be great live and I'm sure we can look forward to an abundance of remixes in the very near future. A highly abstract and ambitious album that has rightly earned widespread praise in the musical press.


Caribou's Official Website

Caribou's MySpace

An awesome live version of Odessa



Album closer - Jamelia



Bowls