Dear Reader – Idealistic Animals: let it roar in you

How can music using animals describe a falling out with religion? If you leave your scepticism at the door, you might just be surprised with what you find inside Dear Reader’s latest album “Idealistic Animals”.

For instance if there was ever a Marxist track cushioned in horns, triangles and cheeky electronics, it’s ‘Giraffe (What’s Wrong With Us)’. The track tells of fetish for the girl splayed across the counter, insinuating a giraffe might be able to rise above the cloud of ideology – these are critiques of the modern human condition, right? The chorus laments “We should ignite the city’s Christmas lights, when I lace my hand in yours, but that’s what’s wrong with us.” Christmas, gift, lacing hands, there’s not enough of it. This seems to be the message.

The playfulness of the sounds, the lyrics leaves room for speculation. This is the album’s immediate success. Dear Reader are known for their humour in the approach to their songs and the concerted mocking of our condition. The array of instruments that are weld together in the tracks, and the composition are, however, anything but light. The best example of the more serious tone is the album titled track ‘Man (Idealistic Animals)’ – the clearest and least jovial expression of the album’s intent.

‘Camel (Not Black Or White But Camel)’ pokes fun at the two-way street that is racism. Or does it? The album is replete with self-doubt. ‘Camel’ also is one of the stronger tracks of the album, the lead vocals and backing sung over guitar and organ to nice effect.

If you’re mildly interested in the pop-folk-electronica genre, give it a chance. “Idealistic Animals” will sooth you, intrigue you, and haunt you. It’s a wonky creation mocked by its own creator. It’s not consistently strong, however you can add the tracks ‘Monkey (You Can Go Home)’ and ‘Mole (Mole)’ to the list of must-listen.

“Idealistic Animals” is an album you’ll be able to return to and find something new in. The introductory ‘Fox (Take Your Chances)’ beseeches you to do just that. Don’t leave it to fate, feel, laugh enjoy until the last track.

Ramis Cizer