In the songs of Voices and Organs, it's no mistake that there's something familiar amid the weirdness -- but it's not because the band is particularly derivative. The group, largely the project of Swede Per Lindmark, is deeply rooted, theoretically, in childhood and memory, and the creepy-sound-collage-meets-whimsy it assembles reflects that.
Voices and Organs has existed since 2004, its only album to date being a full-length CD, Orphanage, released in 2006 by Western Vinyl. Orphanage is a concept album of sorts, centering on the childhoods of two characters in an orphanage. The songs are reminiscent most noticeably of the cloudy collage work of Múm or, to an extent, the quiet contemplation of The One A.M. Radio. At times, the songs fall apart; at others, they are so melodic as to resemble a lullaby.
What Voices and Organs adds to these inspirations is a sense of nostalgia, cutting in string and brass parts that bring to mind adult-standards radio on the AM dial; the lo-fi recording of the vocal parts adds to the effect. In this sense, the music recalls childhood not only in the muddled logic of the song constructions, but in the very sounds, sounds that might suggest music played in our youth by parents or grandparents.
Voices and Organs appears Thu., Sept. 24, at Garfield Artworks with local Western labelmate Julie Sokolow and openers Mom, Dean Cercone and Teadora Nikolova. The show is organized by CP contributor Manny Theiner.
Voices and Organs with Mom, Dean Cercone, Julie Sokolow and Teadora Nikolova. 8 p.m. Thu., Sept. 24. Garfield Artworks, 4931 Penn Ave., Garfield. $7. All ages. 412-361-2262 or www.garfieldartworks.com
