Saying that American folk music has recently been undergoing something of a reinvention is akin to saying that Neil Armstrong has 'travelled a bit'. Whether it's the Animal Collective's wacked-up 'shroom songs, Devendra Banhart's monged nursery music or Sunburned Hand Of The Man's attempts to teleport Neu! into the Appalachians, there's nary any room for those who deliver their music lightly toasted, as opposed to deep-fried.
Thankfully San Francisco's The Dodos have managed to scrape a space amongst the freaks, as their hummable psych-folk is really rather tasty, and Red and Purple, the first single from their imminent album Visiter, is a great place to get acquainted with them.
Over a skiffle-esque beat the duo do a lot with just guitar, drums, and a toy piano; the track succeeds in making its simplicity its strength, combining a hummable melody with jittering, uneasy rhythms and Meric Long's sweet vocals. A classic case of that old adage: if it ain't folk, don't fix it.
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