On 'Men and Flies,' Martin Hagfors gives us an album of psychedelic folk pop by way of a solo debut. It's pleasant enough for the most part, but Hagfors' voice is a little thin and reedy, and isn't all that inspiring. This pretty much sums up the album as a whole.
Hagfors' brand of country-infused indie is augmented by some pleasant orchestral arrangements, with the strings adding texture. There are some interesting and imaginative instrumental passages, as in the second half of the title track, but the overall sound lacks much-needed depth. It's a pity, because slow-building psychedelic expanses of sound like The Kernel Question (which sees Hagfors cryptically contemplating popcorn in a pan) would really benefit from more depth. The same can't be said of chamber-pop pieces like 'Liason' and 'Tattooed on My Eyes': depth or nay, I just can't get into the whimsical melodic meanderings.
|
Martin Hagfors on MySpace
|
