Wheat
White Ink Black Ink
The Rebel Group
8/10
Wheat definitely started out as a four piece – over a decade ago, I might add; however, their own bio refers to them as “3 guys in a basement.” Yet nearly all of the photos I could find, including those on the group’s official website and myspace, feature just two individuals- confusing, to say the least. Confusing, just like the album cover with its giraffes, rhinos and ostriches in a bed of flowers whose centerpiece is a Buddhist statue enjoying a milkshake while the sea stretches across the background. Confusing, just like the music on the album that, stylistically, displays a full gamut of influences.
This is not necessarily a bad thing and the album is, in fact, quite enjoyable. I hear the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour at times, Spiritualized, the Flaming Lips (with whom the band did, or maybe still does, share a manager) and Beck at others. These subtle pop gems, infused with tinges of pyschedelia, reveal a band (group, duo, whatever) that is very adapt at their craft. The group has had its share of brushes with fame, from major label record deals, to motion picture soundtracks and favorable reviews, but has generally kept a low profile. Listening to White Ink, Black Ink, I can’t help but think that’s a shame.
–Luke Toney