pianica lessons

Last night was The Observatory's launch of their 2nd album Blank Walls with a performance at the Esplanade's recital studio. Sitting on the teal-coloured lecture hall chairs while the band played sure made for a strange concert experience.

But since I am no music reviewer, maybe I will start with The Pianica.

Ah, the pianica! This must be what makes The Observatory a local band... As with the recorder, every kid has to go through these pianica lessons when they are in Primary school - didn't you? The pianica doesn't make a very pleasant sound - especially when it is being played by forty 9-year olds together, badly. It lets out flat and plasticky notes, like an accordian on a leash - the notes yanked back before they are completely played. But I remember clearly 2 songs during the concert when the pianica was played. Amidst the lush layers of guitars, drums, keyboards and some lovely ambient sounds, the plastic pianica first carved out its own strangely plastic, magical space - and then invited these other music to join in.

Wheyface thinks their lyrics are "naff" (you can sample a snippet from their first album here). And I cannot help but agree, remembering too what had kept me away for a long time from their previous album at first. The first-person angst and melancholy, thin in its expression and vocabulary, often seems lacking in variety, humour, wit and allusions of any kind (yes, rather cringe-worthy even). This was made all the more obvious when the band ended the night with a cover of David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes- what a contrast!

But what's true about the pianica, I think is also true for Leslie Low's lyrics. Against the lush layers of music they've created, the lyrics stand out in their almost-embarrassing immediacy and nakedness - and offer an obvious space to enjoy the busy and intricate sounds.

I like The Observatory, so maybe I am making excuses for them. But if, like me, you've once been subjected to learning the pianica, then check out Blank Walls and the band's blog.