Super Computer sounds
Cambridge-based boy-girl duo Victoria and Jacob, a name you can’t deny has simplicity, are heading towards great things with this release.
The vocals are very Lily Allen meets Kate Nash. These are not very impressive, more spoken than musically projected, but sit in well with the music being produced.
Each of the three tracks present on ‘Super Computer’ is poppy, electro (laptop produced) pop with some additional sounds. ‘Clash’ is the perfect opening tune with its wind-chime like twinkling buried beneath the electronica. The second track ‘Lion Hunting’ is more varied in percussion with some gentle strummed acoustic guitar. The concluding song ‘Baram’ is a mere repeated acoustic guitar rhythm with layers of percussion built on top. Within these three songs are also areas of glockenspiel and toy keyboards. Their exploration into different sounds is captivating at times.
The tracks ‘Super Computer’ expresses sound very experimental and computer based much of the time (‘Baram’ being the most evident). To me, this isn’t what music should be about. Music should be expressing emotions through playing, and while the few segments that actually sound original are very well produced, Victoria and Jacob seem to rely a little too much on technology and not their talents, which they obviously have. I hope to hear more originality, continuity and expressionism from the band in the future, maybe with a little less laptop sounds and more letting their hands do the hard work.