Overreacting to music can often lead to disappointment. As critics, it's not always easy to be accurate about our first impressions of an album and how those feelings might change over the course of time. Sometimes we find ourselves wanting to get everyone on board about an album we find truly amazing only to feel complete discontent for it a few years later. Conversely, the same could be said about albums we reject in the beginning only to have a deep admiration for later on.
Midaircondo is a very attractive trio of semi-experimental Swedish artists that have constantly kept me wondering where I fit into this idea. They've kept me questioning whether or not they are as good as I believe, and if I'd be over-reacting to giving them a great review. In the end, I suppose my response is generally a positive one. However, there is something that still bothers me about Shopping for Images, which is that it lacks a certain amount of nostalgia I require these days. When you leave this album, it's pretty difficult to have something to take with you.
The good news, however, is that there is one element to Midaircondo's music I find to be extremely well-done, and that is the combination of live experimentation and traditional melody. This juxtaposition is always welcome and, in some ways, necessary. The focus of the majority of this album is the manipulation of simple sounds with the intent to create something more profound. Sometimes it works really well, such as the song "Perfect Spot," but sometimes the mark is a little off ("Although I Heard").
Ultimately, Shopping for Images is a good album that does several things right. At one point, I even believe I felt really good about it. But I'd be overreacting if I said it was a great album that might stand the test of time. Its definitive flaw is that it struggles too often to find its voice in a highly effective way, leaving its listener with nothing to take with them but a general idea of the trio's concepts. The talent is definitely there with Midaircondo and I hope they dig a little deeper next time to give us something to remember.
1. Eva Stern, Shake It
2. Could You Please Stop
3. Serenade
4. Coffeeshop
5. Sorry
6. Although I Heard
7. Perfect Spot
8. Who's Playing
9. Lo-fi Love
10. Faces
11. I'll Be Waiting
More about: Midaircondo
