Pitchfork

The second of two reissues from the High Llamas calls to mind the early days of the Beach Boys, more Beatles, and this time around, there's even a hint of... er... the Eagles. Now, in 1994, when Gideon Gaye was originally released, every reviewer on the block called it "The Best Beach Boys Record Never Made" (of course, we all know that was Smile). Today, the record carries an entirely different resonance.

Frontman Sean O'Hagan's illustrious career has seen him collaborate with the Boo Radleys and, more recently, become a member of Stereolab. But his track record with the Llamas is nothing to sneeze at, either; they've toured with Beck and Pavement among other modern integral artists. But in spite of their repeated and extended exposure to artists who shape today's music, the High Llamas seem to look more to the past than to the future. Here, they settle in too comfortably with the Don Henley- style tunage on "Checking In, Checking Out" which could easily be a remix of the Eagles' "Lyin Eyes." And the Llamas' "Dutchman" could just as well be a remastered outtake of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever." On the other hand, "Giddy Strings" and "Track Goes By" are almost strong enough numbers to carry the rest of the album.

However, musical perceptions have changed significantly since '94; in four years' time, bands like Tortoise, Gastr Del Sol and Isotope 217 have done wonders for the formerly nameless genre, now called "post-rock." Gideon Gaye, in many ways was a precursor to albums like Millions Living Now Will Never Die and Camoufleur. And with people looking to the modern music future rather than the pre- modern music past, I have a sneaking suspicion that the record will receive a different kind of homecoming this time around.