From the moment the ear buds dock and Friend Roulette’s ‘Sailing Song’ came up; I found I was already climbing mountains and working my way across unfamiliar canyons. There’s a perfectly hummable sentiment somewhere in this song that keeps working its way back to the surface, but only after first progressing through all manner of uneven meter changes, brass fanfare and incidental thematic adventure. At times stepping boldly into a space usually exclusive to the imagination of score composers like Danny Elfman, the group essentially writes Baroque pop pieces for an imagined Brechtian musical, casting its talented singer/songwriters Julia Tepper and Matthew Meade as the show’s unlikely protagonists.
After moving through so much landscape, you might think it reasonable that you’d eventually get a good idea about how this band operates. But the more I listen to Roulette, the less sure I am of where the genre’s fault lines are drawn. And it doesn’t help that the vocals are surrounded by generous portions of airy synth playing and legato violin bowing. So I’ve concluded one should only expect to approach the band’s after-hours sound while sifting through a thick haze of fog and mystery. Like an old Noir film, Friend Roulette never gives away the plot, but the distinct pleasure of discovering their dreamy Cabaret texture is enough to keep your ears duly occupied during the journey. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)
This band submitted their music for review digitally here.