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Regrettably, Flake Music disbanded in 1997 following the release of this terrific little record. Fortunately, for the record-buying public at any rate, they went on to form The Shins. Although a little less polished than that band's output, these songs display the same unruffled cool and ease with melody. Confusingly, there are eleven tracks on the CD, twelve according to the CD label â?? eight of which have names, which are listed on the back cover. Got that? Oh well. Titles and such irrelevancies aside (although the name of track ten, The Shins, was evidently good enough for the new band to use) this is guitar pop as it ought to be. Apart from sounding like their future selves, Flake Music oscillate between resembling a more reflective Built to Spill on songs like Structo and Deluca to sounding like an Elephant Six band on the aforementioned track ten and others. This is no mean feat, and in general it serves them well. This record won't change the world, but it's a fun way to spend thirty minutes.

Allie Roxburgh
CWAS #11 - Autumn 2002

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