» Reptar – Body Faucet (Album Review) Vulture Hound Magazine

Reptar – Body Faucet (Album Review)

Reptar was once merely The Rugrats answer to Godzilla, a gargantuan monster capable of leveling cities and devouring millions. But Reptar the band have more in common with the Rugrats wide eyed protagonist Tommy Pickles. If you remember the series Tommy was a toddler to whom that world was a wondrous place, a magical combination of fantasy and reality, fused together with the power of child-like imagination. Body Faucet is the soundtrack to Tommy Pickles head.

Paul Simon-esque, Reptar have created an album that feels rustic , communal, organic and at times, vaguely African. Body Faucet takes you on a journey down an audio river, absorbing the sounds both on and off the bank, near and distant. You constantly feel a sense of place when listening to the tracks, each evokes a different location encompassing a depth of distance between the foreground and background, some places are far away, some are fantastical, the only thing you are ever sure of is that wherever these places are, none of them are here.

Each scene is not a quiet one. They are populated by sounds that contribute to their surroundings whilst all retaining a sense of individuality, like animals in an ecosystem. The plucks and plinks of the instruments recreate the chirps and cheeps of the wilderness. Sebastian has these sounds awakening to the beat of a thousand voices and clapping hands, joining a great jamboree of percussion and dance, creating the kind of party atmosphere that can only be found on the streets of a great community. Whilst in Three Shining Suns the creatures are cautious. The first few notes creep out making sure the coast is clear for the other instruments to raise their heads and make some noise.

This is an album rich in invention. As it plays it creates a sense of traversal or perhaps of painting, whatever it is you are sure Reptar are never finished creating. Even though the music is tightly written and extensively rehearsed there is always the sense of improvisation and spontaneity. The album rarely falls into the trap of verse-chorus-verse as it is constantly changing and evolving. The track you started listen to might bear no resemblance to the same track three minutes later.

Reptar are a surprising new addition to the list of bands you simply must check out this summer. No album feels this much like the sun beating down on your face and no music will make you want to dance more in the parties underneath the stars as they begin to glow in the twilight.