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Decortica - Love Hotel Album Review

07 Sep 2010 // A review by amandashootsbands
Words by Amanda Ratcliffe


Three-piece alternative-rock act, Decortica have been going strong for the past five years now, and have just ‘given birth’ to their second album titled Love Hotel.  I don’t use the term ‘given birth’ lightly by the way, as this release is clearly the result of much love - not only by the band, but the people they have come to know while creating their tunes for the album.

The Auckland act say that photographer Misty Keasler provided a lot of inspiration when they were writing the record with her book, Love Hotels: The Hidden Fantasy Rooms of Japan - which was the result of her own cultural study into ‘romance and spaces that are both public and private at the same time.’  The band built a relationship with Keasler through their album, and were thrilled to have the documentary photographer provide the image for their CD cover.

Stating that they ‘just wanted to make something interesting for ourselves and others’, these guys, have done just that with Love Hotel which took about three months to write.  It was then recorded at the Auckland studio of David Holmes who also produced their last record – A New Aesthetic.  ‘He invested a lot of himself in the album too, so it was another really positive project...’ front man Mathew Bosher said in a recent interview.

He also mentioned that he’d been listening to the new Deftones album, which has definitely been of some inspiration and makes more than a few appearances throughout this record – beginning with Shinkansen.  With a guitar heavy intro, shortly followed by those unique vocals, that can only be Bosher, this five-minute long track twists and builds up taking risks that only Decorticacan get away with. 

Second track, Eros is much calmer and it is here that bassist Antoinette Lee really begs for all the attention.  Travelling through darkness, and what can only be described as some form of pain, this tune is truly infectious and will have you rocking back and forth come the abrupt ending.  The much more violent first single - Monster in a Pretty Dress quickly follows showing off the band’s more aggressive side.

Here you’ll notice snippets of System of a Down through the combination of Bosher’s distinctive vocals and guitar playing skills which will have you hooked in no time.  The video for ‘Monster’ has recently been released - and much to the delight of their fans around the country, is already getting airplay on the likes of Juice TV and C4. 

The now former drummer, Daniel Bosher’s work stands out incredibly on the quieter Ennui, which is most certainly one for the more delicate of ears, and will have you rocking back and forth all over again.  Its here that I came to notice how well compiled this album is switching between the heavier tracks and more ‘mellow’ if you will.  It becomes apparent once more of how much thought has gone into every aspect of the album.

With an extremely fiery performance from all three members, The Sadness of Men boasts epic everything.  If the threesome haven’t already captured your mind, body and soul, this is the tune that will do it.  Like the rest of their tracks, it’s equally as edgy but seems to have just that little more bite to leave you yearning for more.  Yep...I said yearning.

Final track, and album title, Love Hotel is the perfect ‘outro’ to the perfect mix of progressive and alternative rock that is Decortica.  If you are a fan of the Deftones, you will admire this track immensely with a familiar feel that is both homely and inviting. This thoughtful album truly is something else, and with an obvious attention to detail, it’s easy to see this band making it big in the near future.

Love Hotel
View Track Listing
 

About Decortica

Sonically careening between brutal peaks of intensity and quiet moments like the beginning of a storm, Decortica's third album "11811" is an engrossing affair from start to finish.

Recorded and produced by long-time collaborator David Holmes (Jakob, Kerretta, An Emerald City), "11811" continues Decortica's journey into the depths of angular alternative rock, while exploring elements of prog, hard
rock and alternative-metal.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Decortica

Releases

11811
Year: 2012
Type: Album
Love Hotel
Year: 2011
Type: Album
A New Aesthetic
Year: 2008
Type: Album

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