You gotta love Black Cactus Records. Started in early 2010 this co-op record label, run and administered by the very bands that are signed to it, continues to release high quality albums. Their latest, the self-titled full length from the band Lisa Savidge, is a post-pop-rock gem that delves into the differing realms of shoegaze and punk.
Dan Somers fronts Lisa Savidge providing the lead vocals and guitar as well as being the principle song writer (he also does the site design for the Black Cactus webpage). He is joined by Ellery Keller (guitar, violin, vocals), James Krehbiel (drums, percussion), Nick Gortari (keys, vocals, guitar) and Patrick Lamaide (bass, noise). The band has gone through some line-up changes (what band hasn't), but the current group is completely solid and shines throughout the album.
So first off, Lisa Savidge looks and feels great. As with most Black Cactus releases, it's packaged in a glossy DigiPack and adorned with trippy cover art, this time provided by designer Patrick Leahy. There's also a lyrics book, always good for when you need to know that word or phrase that's been driving you crazy trying to decipher (and awesome for music reviewers to reference for an article).
Now let's talk promotion. Lisa Savidge was promoted perhaps better than any Black Cactus release thus far. Posters were hung all throughout Phoenix. A “social experiment” was released with the PP/FF EP which included 3 tracks from and the opportunity to “discover what your role is” in Operation: Elk Cloner, a music-sharing experiment that follows where burned copies of the tracks go throughout the internet. Finally, I must mention the exclusive, private party hosted for industry professionals and the press held on the rooftop of Bar Smith, a hip little bar in the centralist of Phoenix. While there guests were treated to a first-listening of the album in its entirety and got to see several new music videos from the band and others.
Okay, now to the music. The album starts out with a couple solid tracks but personally I felt it didn't get to amazing until the third song “Country Fear,” a song about having everything yet still fearful of the unknown. It strums along ringing a very dissonant chord. The next track “Over” is another superb number starting off slow berfore exploding into a fury of noise. The album continues to rock, offering variations in dynamic and sound. “Moment of Silence” is a very impressive instrumental track written by Ellery and featuring his stunning violin work. The last three tracks will have you spinning as they propel you into supersonic speed and then, just as quickly, bring you back down to earth.
I can only expect greater and greater releases from Black Cactus. As Lisa Savidge demonstrates, they are definitely putting time and care into their albums and it shows. Radio stations across the country have began playing songs off Lisa Savidge, so you'd better see them now before they begin world-wide touring!
