The Response – Novel Idea (13th Floor Album Review)
The depth of music in this land is extraordinary. A month ago I hadn’t heard of The Response, yet here they are on repeat in my head, playing on he inner jukebox in the most delicious way.
The Response comprise Andy Knopp (guitar, vocals, loops, vocals) and Victoria Knopp (drum samples, foot controlled bass synth, glockenspiel, vocals). After what they describe as a ‘slow drip’ of single releases, The Response have released Novel Idea, a 14 song collection of gloriously engaging tracks.
In the range of band configurations in Kiwi music, duos are uncommon. There’s the atmospheric pop of Broods and the heavy psych/fuzz of Earth Tongue, the blues-rock of Swamp Thing. The Response offer something different: haunting beats and unusual chord progressions that overlay introspective lyrics. And like these other duos, its often a wonder there are only two.
The title track is up first: Novel Idea is brooding alt-rock over-written with a lively indie-sensibility. Starting again is a novel idea/but the past won’t just disappear. Suggestive, maybe, of the sounds of Circa Waves.
The metronomic beat of Hollow Branches reflects self-consciously on life’s awkward moments. I’m a full fledged disaster/Maybe three times in four.
With similar introspection All of My Flaws begins in the jerky vein of a Talking Heads rhythm then segues into a gorgeous melody. A joyful tune over-riding an angsty lyric: sort of in the The Beths’ edgy way of making happy out of sad.
40,000 Day and Night has hints of Broken Social Scene. Buoyant. I move forward but when I look around it’s so strangе/I feel these buildings all just look the same. Ennui laced with cheerful resignation.
A few songs later Circles Within Circles has a vibrant danceable beat. It’s a song that seems to have layers added with every verse. Positively effervescent. Still on replay in my head hours later, the best sort of earworm. Deliciously transporting. Wake up red there’s a fight in my body/In your head there’s a riot going on. Neither deeply philosophical nor trivial. The ponderings of one who takes time to listen to the inner voice. And then find a beat to carry the soul’s doubts into song. Brilliance. Why have I not heard of this duo till now?
Last song Far From Figured Out is carried by a frantic little melody. I know it’s far from figured out/But let’s not talk about the weather. As if to say let’s not shy away from the questions within by being banal. And, by extension, life’s too short for ordinary tunes. And these ones are extraordinarily good.
This is The Response’s fifth album. It runs in at a generous just-under-an-hour. How could I have not known of them till last month? They describe this as their quirky album. It certainly is replete with unusual rhythms and chord changes as well as idiosyncratic reflections on that odd thing called life. And is ultimately joyful.
My response? This album will be on heavy rotation for a long while. And roll on the chance to see them live.
Robin Kearns
Novel Idea is out now. Click here to listen or buy.
Click here to watch The 13th Floor MusicTalk interview with The Response.
