The Depreciation Guild

Spirit Youth (Kanine)

By Amanda Stovall
Published: May 24th, 2010 | 7:00am

Brooklyn-based trio the Depreciation Guild’s newest release is a departure from their earlier use of head-turning and memory-inducing Nintendo sound bytes, but remains true to their signature distorted dream-pop melodies. Adhering to the album’s title, Spirit Youth, the songs create an ethereal mashing of pixilated guitar riffs and simple drum beats that almost inspire a listener to purchase their own synthesizer and start laying tracks to the band’s version of minimalist electronica.

The band’s sound has been called ideal for shoe gazing, and tracks like “Dream About Me” set the tone of sleep-laden songs that are best listened to staring up at ceiling fans with headphones. With breathy vocals and slow sung lyrics, Spirit Youth creates a cohesive daze that leaves a listener suspended in a surreal orbit, the only moments of reprieve coming in songs like “A Key Turns” where the opening riff picks up to an almost danceable beat. The remainder of the song and the album is best suited to a raver’s slow dance, if such a thing exists, or a live show that is tinted blue and smoky by stage effects worthy of a video dream sequence.

While Spirit Youth is extremely likable, it loses some of the unique charm that the nostalgic Nintendo clips provided earlier efforts, leaving the album struggling for a unique voice in the plethora of rock and electronic fusions.

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The Depreciation Guild official Web site

The Depreciation Guild MySpace page

Kanine Records