Caroline CD Review
Caroline
Murmurs
(Temporary Residence)
While plenty of alternatives exist, Japanese contributions to cutting-edge pop have been steered toward the cartoonish in mainstream media.
The idea of Tokyo as one big video game was exploited in Lost In Translation, and steady contributions from Cibo Matto, Shonen Knife, and Deerhoof frontman Satomi Matsuzaki seem to uphold stereotypes of cutesy accents, an incurable addiction to neon colors, and general eccentricity. Caroline Lufkin, however, and her Anglo-Saxon name desire no such affiliation.
Spiked by the dreamy ballad “Where’s My Love,” the intentions might be downtempo pop stardom, though the execution reveals depth and attention to detail that negates notions of cynicism. “Pink & Black” yields an affinity for Björk, while “Bicycle” gathers Icelandic storms. “All I Need” begins unassumingly but soon bursts over the mountain for a free falling chorus altogether weightless and exhilarating. When the rising sun is there to meet you on the other side you begin to realize how unfortunate the stereotypes are.
— Steve Forstneger
Click here to download “Where’s My Love.”
