Eric's Trip - Love Tara (Album Review)

 

Eric’s Trip - Love Tara

(1993)


My copy: 2015 reissue by Sub Pop.


Canadian band Eric’s Trip may take more than just their name from Sonic Youth; but even on their occasionally heavy, distorted songs, they manage to wring-clean the dry cynicism of their aforementioned influence in favor of a more genuine, lo-fi romanticism that befits their minimalist production style. 

“Behind The Garage” and “Stove” both favor cutesy acoustic indie rock, sharing similarities with contemporaries like The Supreme Dicks albeit with a less complicated/experimental take on the genre. Songs like “Anytime You Want” and “Follow” begin to dabble in distorted, sludge bass tones and duets between vocalists Julie Doiron, Rick White or Chris Thompson, all of whom provide words to the album. “Secret For Julie” instills a sort of playful psychosis - the chords and melodies are sweet but the performance and lyrics are notedly sinister; a style that has become popular with modern acts such as Alex G. 

“Belly” fakes out with nature sounds and quiet arpeggios before jolting awake with dense bass - not unlike early Codeine. Their pensive side is shown in the tremolo/tom-drum tension of “Sunlight” though they can’t resist the urge to release into subtly anthemic Dinosaur Jr.-ian rock choruses. Lo-fi tape experiments like “June” and “May 11” would undoubtedly inspire Phil Elverum and other lo-fi folk types while the Elliott Smith-like emotional resonance of “To Know Them” and “Spring” unleash a soft yet vaguely bitter side to their writing. 

“Frame” and “My Room” are fun jams but feel almost redundant, as if to prove that this kind of simplistic production isn’t really suited for a full-length release. “Blinded” and “Allergic To Love” then demonstrate that Eric’s Trip are not out of ideas yet, with the most visceral and anguished performance from Doiron on the former and a wonderfully wistful and romantic vibe on the latter. 

Eric’s Trip came about at the perfect time for their brand of D.I.Y. recording and attitude - showing just before bands like Guided By Voices would finally hit it big doing the same thing. The difference is that Eric’s Trip songs sometimes struggle to find those earworm melodies, but Love Tara remains great for its easy-going playfulness and willingness to get slower and dirtier - like a primal version of Talulah Gosh.

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