Hawaii

The High Llamas:
Hawaii

[Alpaca Park/V2]
Rating: 9.0
Like distant radio transmissions from Martiniland mingling with Brian Wilson at Stereolab's beach house party, the High Llamas... well, they pretty much got it goin' on.

Hawaii is two discs filled with more shockingly cheesy, strings- and- vibes- powered instrumental magic than you could ever dream of. It's the soundtrack to Chachi's high school slow dance erection. And if you're as drawn the soundtracks to the music of '80s made- for- television love scenes as I am, you'll dig the tall- swaying- grass harmonies of "Ill-Fitting Suits," the Zumpano- esque "Dressing Up the Old Dakota" and the suave- new- day sounds of "Cuckoo's Out."

Through 35 tracks and 115 minutes of unstoppable cornball beauty, strung together with half-minute interludes and segues, the High Llamas show they can double-up the personalities of Nick Drake and Ferrante and Teicher for a surprisingly refreshing, non-carbonated soft drink called Fucking Bloody Wonderful.

- Ryan Schreiber, May 15, 2006