Strictly speaking, ‘Holo Pleasures/California Dreamin’’ is not a new album. The first half of the record was originally released back in 2013, which ramped up the underground buzz surrounding Elvis Depressedly. The initial release of ‘Holo Pleasures’ paved the way for the lo-fi duo’s Run For Cover debut, ‘New Alhambra’, which received critical acclaim for its laid back vibe and the brutally honest self-examining rhetoric by Matthew Cothran.
What does make this release feel like a new album is the addition of the six tracks that form the ‘California Dreamin’’ half of the record. They serve as a perfect partner to ‘Holo Pleasures’, and yet while they carry a similar dream-like haze to the initial release, they stand out on their own, meaning this is quite literally a record of two halves.
While many will already be familiar with the original release of ‘Holo Pleasures’, it makes for great listening when you go back hear it with a fresh pair of ears. The minimal approach used by Elvis Depressedly is warm and inviting, with a bedroom-like production giving the record a very organic feel. Lightly over-driven guitars give way to lush string sections on ‘Pepsicoke Suicide’, and the disjointed keys that provide the backbone for ‘Weird Honey’ are just as charming they were three years ago.
It is the second half – the ‘California Dreamin’’ section – where this record really shines. It sounds like the missing link between ‘Holo Pleasures’ and last years ‘New Alhambra’, adding qualities from both releases into one pot. The drug-infused tale told through the lucid ‘Angel Cum Clean’ is heart wrenching, while the ‘Slip’ cruises along with a gritty drumbeat and Cothran’s lackadaisical drawl. The simple chord progression of ‘Holo Pleasures (California Dreamin’)’ leads into twisted spiral of noise at its cadence, while the synth-heavy dizziness of ‘Up In The Air’ brings the album to a close in a euphoric finale.
As with everything Elvis Depressedly release, the production of the record is what makes it all the more endearing. The devil is in the detail, and they have no need to make things sound big and slick. With a distinct knack for writing short, sweet songs, and delivering them with the utmost sincerity, ‘Holo Pleasures/California Dreamin’’ is a perfect reminder of how wonderful Elvis Depressedly really are.
GLEN BUSHELL