‘Cyclops’ is the sixth studio album from Boston based photographer, BMXer, musician extraordinaire! Von Stetten has released an album every year for the past six year and is perfect proof of musicians not needing a big studio and the backing of a major record label to create wonderful high quality music because this man does it all him self, in the comfort of his own home just the way Daniel Johnsten did in the 80s and 90s. He designs his own album covers, he plays all the instruments and gosh darn had he done a fine job.
Each track is short and sweet with enough detail to trick you into thinking that he has a full band behind him but not so much detail that it sounds like it’s been whipped up in an expensive recording studio. There is no real way to describe the genre of the album and it is quite hard to pin point who Mr Von Stetten sounds like. In places it does have that child like charm of anti-folk legend Daniel Johnsten but in a much less raw and garage rock fashion.
Album opener ‘He’s No Writer’ is riddled with choppy, overdrive laden guitars with several clues that it was put together in a small room. The tone of the album changes rapidly four tracks in with ‘Boxer’ a slower paced, acoustic number which is longer then it’s three predecessor tracks racking up a whole 2 minutes 24 seconds.Then ‘Stupid Fuck’ sound’s like a cross between Interpol and Sonic Youth.
Overall ‘Cyclops’ is a great album, it’s not a revolutionary sound but it is most certainly genre bending and different to most of the stuff that is kicking about at the moment. However even if you are not a fan of Kurt Von Stetten’s sound (which I would say is quite an acquired taste) you have to respect his do it yourself mentality as well as the mans musical talent.
Overall Rating : 3.5/5
