more from
Magic Door Record Label
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Sea Is Fierce

by Elk City

/
1.
Take Me Out 09:03
2.
Turpentine 05:58
3.
Three Ears 03:07
4.
Strange 02:54
5.
Bar Song 03:18

about

AllMusic review by Doug Simpson:

This five-track, 24-minute EP is an engaging follow-up to Elk City’s 2000 full-length debut, Status, which introduced singer-guitarist Peter Langland-Hassan, drummer Ray Ketchem and bassist-singer Reneé LoBue (who uses a vintage bass synth that supplies textures acoustic string and electric bass guitars can’t provide). Status had an acidic folksy amusement, which owed as much to Yo La Tengo as to Grandaddy, but was too idiosyncratic for pop fans, and just pop enough that some ignored it.

Nine-minute opener “Take Me Out,” explodes with noisy guitar, morphs to a moody arrangement akin to Low, and ends with a fuzzy feedback guitar frenzy. Langland-Hassan and LoBue duet like Black Francis paired with Kim Gordon, relating a narrative of desperation and obsession.

Dean Wareham is one influence, so its no surprise to find a cover of Galaxie 500’s “Strange,” which is as atmospheric and warm as the original. “Three Ears” bursts with abrasive tension which recalls the Pixies, including heavily distorted vocals buried beneath contorted guitar. Final cut “Bar Song” ambles along with assistance from a musical saw and floating pedal steel guitar.

Elk City’s creations take odd turns that can disconcert but are ultimately intriguing, with sober stories that, thankfully, are never too self-absorbed.

credits

released October 23, 2001

Produced by Ray Ketchem  
© 2001 (Ketchem/LoBue/Langland-Hassan)
published by sound is crazy music (BMI)  

Peter Langland-Hassan / vocals, guitars, casio on “Turpentine”
Renée LoBue / vocals, Fender Rhodes Piano Bass
Ray Ketchem / drums, organ, synths, percussion

Guests on “Bar Song”
Julian Koster / musical saw
Bob Hoffnar / pedal steel guitar

Recorded and mixed by Ray Ketchem in the WOMB

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Elk City Montclair, New Jersey

"Elk City’s cool and elegant sound draws on 1980s “dream pop” and bits of 1960s folk-rock."
- The New York Times 

"Elk City is one of NYC's best kept secrets; they'll appeal to fans of the Clientele, Camera Obscura and, seriously, Fleetwood Mac."
- L Magazine 

"LoBue is a firebrand - soft and gentle one minute, raising the hairs on your neck the next."
- PopMatters
... more

contact / help

Contact Elk City

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

Elk City recommends:

If you like Elk City, you may also like: