Soviet League: Soviet League Review

Artist: Soviet League
Album: Soviet League
Label: Angel Oven Records

During a scene in 30 Century Man, Stephen Kijak’s documentary about Scott Walker, British singer Alison Goldfrapp recalls how, as a young artist, she was absolutely stunned upon discovering Walker’s work, calling it “proper music” and something she wanted to at least try to emulate with her own. Like Goldfrapp before them, today’s impressionable young artists would likely also benefit from attempting to emulate the similarly proper music found on Soviet League’s self-titled debut.

The band is a partnership between veteran L.A. indie rock frontmen, Ben Eshbach (The Sugarplastic) and Matthew Kelly (The Autumns). Kelly’s voice is the bridge between Brian Wilson and David Bowie, while Eshbach could safely be described as equal parts Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, and Django Reinhardt. Throw in a handful of accomplished musical accomplices, and the master tunesmiths have managed to create one of the truly great albums of the past year.

In addition to occasional sonic nods to their own endearingly eclectic bands, Eshbach and Kelly deftly blend an exhaustive and divergent mix of styles and influences, from tinges of U2, Radiohead, and the Sherman Brothers to spaghetti western surf ballads, indie rock waltzes, high-octane sea shanties, lilting lullabies, and strategically placed expert whistling. Despite these numerous and varied inspirations and approaches, however, the finished product is a gorgeously coherent and complete musical statement.

People have been discovering Scott 4 for decades now. Let’s hope listeners discover Soviet League for at least as long.

Essential listening.

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