Homesongs

Whether Fridge remains together or not I don't know, but by listening to Adem's Homesongs, and having been so impressed with Four Tet's two wondrous CDs, the work of Kieran Hebden—the first member of Fridge to record on his own—it is clear that their imaginative and diverse brand of post-rock will continue to yield gems through its members. Adem is a different path for Hebden. Where Four Tet has stretched and morphed prior electronica boundaries, bringing cinematic quality to melancholia and a expanded sonic palette, Adem moves closer to folk, a hushed and intimate vision of what he sees and expects. Now, to call folk "hushed and intimate" is hardly an insight, yet Adem's brand of it manages to accomplish something personal and extremely worthwhile. Simplicity is key here, yet simplicity that cannot be confused with timidity nor the absence of emotional depth. Also, there are enough subtle and spare hints of electronica to make this album fairly original. There are no duds here, yet certain songs are remarkable enough to be singled out. "Ringing in My Ear, "Gone Away," "Cut" and "These Are Your Friends" are astounding examples of why Homesongs may end up mentioned as one of the best things that came out that year. "These Are Your Friends," particularly, shows that this guy is no fluke. Listen to how the song unpretentiously develops into a chant as the chorus grows in passion repeating "everybody needs some help sometime,” and seamlessly returns to its soft-sung beginning. This is a tender and wise-beyond-his-years work. You will be moved by it.

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