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Sherpa - Lesser Flamingo Album Review

27 Apr 2012 // A review by Peter-James Dries

It’s hard to gauge the success of local Indie bands, but you know Sherpa are making waves in the Indie world when you hear their songs played on one of the obscure niche shows Massey University’s Radio Control has on offer. That’s where I first came across this quirky band and their unique sound. They made it onto the bFM Top Ten, I hear. It would appear Indie Rock is very much in vogue. 

And how appropriate a term, as there are several moments that remind me of early Madonna on Lesser Flamingo. It’s poppy, catchy and Earl Ho’s unique voice distinguishes Sherpa from the other Indie Rock acts on offer. The music is like the ambience of some strange psychedelic circus.  Forever happy. Radiant carousels turning. Candy Floss and fluffy soft toys.

While everyone raves about their singles ‘Turtles’ and ‘Lunar Bats’ I urge you too look deeper into the album. There are hidden gems with wow factors scattered through the rest of the album too. Not bad for an entirely self-funded, self-produced and self-released DIY effort.

Lesser Flamingo
View Track Listing
 

About Sherpa

With their previous release ‘Pretty Cool Optical Illusions’ earning them a Groove Guide album of the week, two number ones on the bFM Top Ten, a Roundhead Studios Live In Session, opening slots for The Clean, Darwin Deez, Real Estate and a noteworthy performance at this years Auckland Laneway Festival, Sherpa are set to paint 2012 in a psychedelic haze with the release of their anticipated debut album - ‘Lesser Flamingo’.

‘Lesser Flamingo’ is a 12-track technicolor panorama where “Sweet charming melodies crash into wonderful psychedelic whirls which spin at such velocity” (Cheese On Toast). Self-funded, self-produced and self-released ‘Lesser Flamingo’ is Sherpa-concentrate captured and mixed by the exceptional James Dansey (The Ruby Suns, The Sneaks, Spring Break) and mastered by JJ Golden (Calexico, Devendra Banhart). The lovingly crafted debut single ‘Lunar Bats’ has already reached number one on the bFM Top Ten and is a taste of more turbulent power-pop hits to look forward to on the album.

With the video for the follow up single ‘In Dolphins He Trusts’ premiered on TVNZ U and a forth self-directed music video in the pipelines for ‘Turtles’ you can expect the words “Sherpa” and “Flamingo” to become mainstays in your music vocabulary.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Sherpa

Releases

Blues & Oranges
Year: 2014
Type: Album
Lesser Flamingo
Year: 2012
Type: Album

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