Review: The Felines - Want
By Eli Schoop, Contributor
[Burger; 2014]
Rating: 7/10
Key Tracks: “Haunted Beach Party,” “Pity For Your Eyes,” “Want”
I hate the term “all-girl group.” Besides the obvious sexism, it also pigeonholes a band's sound to the fullest. When someone uses the phrase, there are definitive connotations to what they're saying about the band as a whole--music and all.
In the case of The Felines, the stereotypes surrounding girl groups fit. Loud guitar rock, plentiful use of harmonies and lyrics about love, parties and young adult life in general run rampant. What they do with these tropes isn't so much cliche as it is finely tuned.
This easy description of what the Felines are about belies their true nature. “Al Pacino” kicks off Want in a way that would make Lou Reed and Iggy Pop smile. Accented vocals give the song its own brand of charm and make it more than the average garage-punk outfit.
The Felines pull out a great surf-rock tune in “Haunted Beach Party,” on which The Shangri-Las and Buzzcocks combine in perfect succession; it’s such a simple composition when the voices of Ditte Malgaard, Mei Long Bao and Asta Bjerre combine this well. Their synchronicity turns a fairly generic rhythm into a succinctly catchy treat.
This is a Burger Records release and, as with all the label’s output, there's a formula to it. Although akin to fellow label mates, The Felines do a good job subverting expectations of a Burger band by playing with all different types of sounds in order to create a plethora of emotions. “Pity For Your Eyes” is a pleasant, Cherry Peel-esque diversion from the pop-rock that dominates the album, coalesced by horns and crashing drums.
“Theme From The Critter Room” is a very sweet interlude after “Pity.” Its floating synths complement the harmonies that seem angelic yet vastly distant in their melancholy air. It also marks how inventive The Felines can be when they branch out from their previous tracks. The atmosphere is thick and recalls vague memories of past times with good friends and speaks to Want's ambiance as a whole.
Peppy riffs and short tempers flash throughout “Tom Cat” and “Sticky Song,” a one-two punch of attitude and pissed-off demeanor. It's this kind of look, all menace and snarl, that makes The Felines' raunchy brand of pop so captivating. Without such a dedicated aesthetic, the simplicity of the music would be too overbearing; it’s refreshing to see this from the Danish group.
“Want” marks the end of the record and is definitely a fitting conclusion. Loud as hell and unrestrained, and punctuated by searing guitar at the beginning, it breaks off into a cruising melody that's sidelined by a weaving jam session weaving in and out. The song devolves into madness by the end and that completes Want in true feline nature--they don't give any shits about what anyone thinks and they're going to do it their way.
