Band: Waterlaso
Album Title: What Have You Ever Done To Deserve Everything You’ve Ever Wanted
Label: Mountain Fighting
Available From: www.cdbaby.com/waterlaso
Reviewed By: William Mclintoch
Rating:9/10

This last year has seen many trends and revivals brought to the forefront in the shape of such bands as the White Stripes and The Strokes. As I said that was last year, this year several bands are poised and ready to reach the forefront, the most impressive of which are Waterlaso. Where as the aforementioned bands deal in kitch and retro fun, Waterlaso will displace you from any era.

The debut album from Waterlaso “What Have You Ever Done…” is a cascading masterpiece of intricately constructed electronics woven with devastatingly pure acoustic songs. Similar in scope to Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over The Sea” but explores more electronics in a hand-crafted manner that makes it necessary for those who depend on samplers as a crutch to run and find new legs.

The album’s opener “Japanesex” sets the tone for the record of lifelong damage, permanence and impermanence, and memory turning to vapor. The gleaming yet dirty acoustic guitar is played as almost an ode to, or in the style of a synth. This is followed by the uncomfortably sexy electro of “Pyramid Lion” which is pushed to an almost spiritual level with the lyric delivery of such lines as “When the night arrives/The pyramid lion fly’s and eclipses the moon showing you his body.”

What makes this album are the stunning and unique vocals, exceptional lyrics, and it’s beautiful but not over polished soundscapes. In it’s imperfections it acknowledges our ability to never achieve perfection yet exalts it one step closer. This is a glowing review, but they are an exciting band to get to see the beginnings of, the first of it's kind that I have witnessed. I do not want them to be another one of those bands we look back on and appreciate in retrospect, they are here with us now and making a statement. To look the other way would cause us to miss the moment.