Pitch Perfect
  • Pitch Perfect
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Vinyl Floor - Funhouse Mirror

10/31/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Vinyl Floor

Funhouse Mirror
​self-released; 2022

TOP ALBUM


By Michael E. Vincent​

Danish-based Vinyl Floor not only channels the decorative vibe of your great aunt’s kitchen in 1969, but they play a mix of alternative-cum-melodic rock firmly entrenched in the sensibilities of that moment. Comprised of two brothers, Charlie and Daniel Pedersen – both of whom alternate vocal duties – the band count Funhouse Mirror as their fifth LP. Of note, the music pushes “experimental and symphonic expression,” thus harkening back to the warmer tones of the group’s earlier efforts. As a bonus, it also features support from known quantities like Bebe Risenfors (horns/percussion/organ), Rob Stoner (bass) and Christian Ellegaard (strings). Respectively, these musicians have loaned their talents to heavy hitters as varied as Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Because even vinyl – like its cousins linoleum, Formica and shag – can surprise with touches of class.

Barreling headlong, the opening cut “Anything You Want” is a punch in the gut, courtesy of an excitable Elvis Costello-type riff. The immediacy of the piece shatters melodic expectation without reverting to the needless bombast of prog. Which is to say, the tune boasts uniqueness yet shuns exclusivity. “Between The Lines” slows the tempo. Toeing the line between Oasis and Ben Folds, the track floats like a piano-driven daydream. Not to mention, it drifts nicely into “Dear Apollon,” a message to the god of liberal arts curricula, via delicate keys and Queen dandification.

Much of the first two-thirds of the record maintains this sonic blueprint. For the visually inclined, it might bear a resemblance to parasol twirlers and big bloomers. For everyone else, it’s a jovial romp through bright phrasing, bubbly choruses and occasional harmonics. Case in point: “Ever, The Optimist” sounds like Ringo Starr covering XTC, before an extended horn jam conjures the spirit of Dave Matthews. And “Funhouse Mirror,” the title track, pays homage to Mott The Hoople, albeit with light fuzz on the guitar solo.

Of note, the final three tracks excel beyond mere competence, packing the light-in-the-fly sounds of yore with extra heft. In other words, the brothers have let out their inseams. And we, as listeners, are escorted behind the titular looking glass. It’s a just reward after lending our collective attention for 25 minutes, even if the decision to bury these gems behind seven earlier offerings of flip eccentricity is, well, unorthodox.

Namely, “Death of a Poet” meshes Beethoven’s long-out-of-copyright ‘Moonlight Sonata’ with an inspirationally rousing chorus that, at times, teeters nervously into Scott Stapp territory. “Stare, Scare” casts a menacing injection of electronic energy; a razor-sharp, layered chassis of synthetic drive that zig-zags with metallic undertones. When paired with a rich baritone – channeling post-punk revivalists White Lies – the song truly blossoms. Likewise, “Days” closes the LP with a gorgeous (yet interestingly syllabic) melody. It’s a textured lullaby at heart, imploding in a contoured, nearly looping outro. Alas, the only weakness to this final trio is the under-reliance of Daniel Pedersen’s grunge tipped vocals; welcomingly gruff yet delicate.

​Still, it was an absolute treat to gaze through – and eventually step into – that mirror. Admission well spent, a perfect day, a fairground reverie in gin-clear glass.
Become A Fan
Spotify
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure. We feature a wide variety of genres like americana, electronic, pop, rock, shoegaze, ambient, and much more.

    Massive thanks to @pitchperfect158 for the expertly written review of our tune, Chapter 1, from the Tangents EP . Check it out here. ❤️https://t.co/TIDRHi9vyB

    — AuldWhiteLabel (@AuldWhiteLabel) February 1, 2025

    For those of you craving some real music journalism to cut through the tide of AI generated nonsense we seem to be drowning in check out this from Matt Jensen at @pitchperfect158 https://t.co/9Kf8GMgnvM

    — Garfield Mayor (@garfieldmayor) January 31, 2025
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    July 2025
    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter

PR Services

PR Services
© Pitch Perfect 2025. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Pitch Perfect
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact