By Derek Lynch
Farther Fewer is the debut release of the foursome of Twin Cities music veterans that make up Hotelecaster. Founded by singer and guitarist Kevin Scott and a set of demo tapes dating back to 2012, the current lineup also includes Charlie Ward of Dear Data, Marc Zazzaro of Grammar, and Stephen Lindquist of We Are the Willows. The resulting sound is one that resides comfortably in the Twin Cities indie rock revival alongside WATW, Hippo Campus, et al.
Written by Scott, shaped by Ward, and produced by Jeremy Ylvisaker (Andrew Bird), Hotelecaster’s initial sound is ambitiously electric, both dynamic and jangly. The combination creates a retro vibe that lends itself to alt-rockers Spoon, Motion City Soundtrack, and Neutral Milk Hotel. In fact, who can listen to the slight distortion and ultra-white-guy groove in the album’s opener, Distaster, and not think just a little of Jeff Mangum?
The album starts out strong and ends even stronger. There Was A Fight Last Night, the penultimate track, rocks a lackadaisical groove that will make you want to butcher some dance moves. The guys close out with I Will Wait, a song brimming with anticipation throughout until it explodes with an all-stops-pulled guitar solo that finishes the EP and, naturally, leaves us wishing for just one more. With any luck, Hotelecaster won’t leave us hanging for too long.
https://hotelecaster.bandcamp.com/
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