El Perro Del Mar - From The Valley To The Stars Album Review

From The Valley To The Stars is the latest album from Swedish musician El Perro Del Mar. The name, which means “The Dog of the Sea” in Spanish, is the stage name of Sarah Assbring. Assbring, who remains the only official member of the band, began her musical endeavors just over three years ago in Gothenburg on Hybris Records. Her particular brand of lo-fi indie pop gained EPDM critical acclaim for her self titled release, and a deal with UK label Memphis Industries. As of 2007, EPMD is working with Licking Fingers on all Swedish releases, including this year’s “From The Valley To The Stars”, which dropped in the US on April 22nd.

The album’s opening track, “Jubilee”, sets the tone for the rest of the album. The short introductory song, which is only 2:12 long opens with organs and angelic harmonies, both of which fit perfectly with the twee, indie-pop expectations built by her previous two albums. Unlike her previous efforts, however, the tone that is carried through the majority of this album is much more bittersweet than the cotton candy sweetness one would expect from this artist. The next few tracks continue in the same vein with intros evocative of somber Belle & Sebastian songs and heartfelt lyrics worthy of Morrissey’s despair.

The fourth track, “How Did We Forget” retains the somber mood of the previous three tracks, but brings the mood back up slightly with the addition of horns in the chorus. The next track, “Inside The Golden Egg”, which is the second shortest track on the album at 1:46, is a delicate piano reverie that serves as the turning point in the album. Although the rest of the album continues on in a similarly downbeat manner, it is more with a sense of cheerful relief that the album continues.

Perhaps my favorite track on this album, “Inner Island” begins slowly, but upliftingly harmonizes into something more Vampire Weekend than EPDM’s traditional Du-Wop rhythms. Also uplifting is the ninth track, “Somebody’s Baby”, in which Assbring returns to the cheerful 50’s diner jukebox vibe that has gained her fans in the past, but only for a moment. Beyond that, track eleven, “Happiness Won Me Over”, is a beautiful song in tune and harmony, but the listener still gets the feeling that Assbring’s real purpose in the song, as with many others on the album, is to convey a biblical fervor that come across in the hymn-like structure of the song.

Towards the end of the album, the title track, “From the Valley to the Stars” serves as a fitting bookend, complementing “Jubilee” in its mood and sincerity. It almost feels as if Assbring has lulled us into this biblical sojourn and is now readying us to wake from a dream. Fans of EPDM will rejoice in the familiarity of her vocal harmonies and pop sensibilities, but may be disappointed in the bittersweet mood and somewhat repetitive lyrics. Recommended for fans of Belle & Sebastian, Camera Obscura, Acid House Kings, Azure Ray, and Jens Lekman.

For more info, visit www.elperrodelmar.com.

Written by: Melissa Tan