The Harlequins are a Cincinnati band with a love for all things SF right now. They’ve got a tape out on our friend Zach’s label Random Old Records. Zach runs a great blog and podcast that you should check out as well (link to it below). So back to the band…there’s an obvious Dwyer and Co. influence right on the surface (that just about no one can miss) but with less prominent basslines (which might be the thing that sets Thee Oh Sees apart from many of their counterparts). I guess some of this sound might harkens back to Syd Barrett and co, but I mostly just hear Oh Sees worship. Absurdly awesome pop melodies (also an obvious homage to Dwyer), and a completely delay-ed out guitar sound. I guess this is what Thee Oh Sees would sound with less cheap speed and acid and a bit more alcohol? Something dirge-y and less weird…I guess that’s what the Midwest is all about though, so it makes sense. Not sure if they’re breaking any boundaries or doing anything that new, but I’d say it’s worth a shot for fans seeking out yet more material by Thee Oh Sees (are their actually people out there who don’t have enough of an Oh Sees fix these days?). I think I’d be a bit more excited if this didn’t sound exactly like Thee Oh Sees meets Ty Segall without any of the weirdness and maniacally perfect additional instrumentation that sets both of those bands miles ahead of their contemporaries. I mean this band still throws in the occasional delay swell that instantly makes the recordings sound “wacky” and “SFesque” these days…but does that qualify for true “weirdness”? It’s definitely not the true weirdness that a genius like Dwyer has crafted over a century of playing shows. The best cut is the opener “End For Us All”. My second favorite is “No Not I” which definitely could be an Oh Sees B-side (A killer one at that). Honestly, I couldn’t help but feel like I had heard the rest of the record before though, which could be a compliment or a fault…I’m not sure yet. It’s definitely worth a shot if you need more 60’s psych pop in your life though. Give it a listen below:
The Harlequins on Facebook
Random Old Records Blog/Podcast
Buy the release from Random Old Records!
