APE DELAY [2012]
4 stars (out of 5)
[BERNARD ZUEL :: SYDNEY MORNING HERALD] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -"It’s almost as if ollo have discovered the way to have the best of both the modernist and post-modernist cakes, and are eating everything in sight. Searching, electronic-based music, which evokes old and new possibilities, combines accessibility with stark exploration. This album will be right up there on my end of year lists." [ADRIAN ELMER :: CYCLIC DEFROST] Full review here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Like the sonically-similar LCD Soundsystem, Ollo’s cheesier moments are offset by humour, irony and a deadpan cool... a kind of rawness not often seen in this kind of electronic music but which is surprisingly captivating." [HENRY ANDERSEN :: XPRESS MAGAZINE] Full review here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Ape Delay is a quirky pop album with a cascade of hooks... topped off with clever lyrics... Album highlight Burn More Coal begins with a potentially prophetic lyric, “Do you give them a kiss and forget their name?/Leave all your love at your own front door and fall into the sun”, before launching into a dark urgent groove and questioning the rate at which we’re torpedoing towards the metaphorical end of the line, while the emotive Full Stop Blue signs off the album beautifully. Ape Delay may immediately sound as though it’s the soundtrack to an old Commodore 64 video game but it’s a serious achievement in marrying concept with good songwriting." [IMRAN SHAHID :: CITY HUB] Full review here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Bloody compelling… slinky and seductive" 4.5 stars (out of 5) [GARRETT BITHELL :: SX / CULT MAGAZINES] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -"Music of the future age" [INDIEBANDSBLOG.COM] full review here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "When a new album from the much-loved-at-SER Sydney duo ollo lands, you realise how long it's been since the last one. They take their time, and in that time there's a severe lack of their kind of singular synthetic pop concoctions dealt out on this newie Ape Delay with easy deadpan cool the likes of Bowie would kill for, not to mention a laidback and unforced wit that makes a lot of other bands doing the rounds come across as oh-so serious. Guys, we've missed you." [ANDREW KHEDOORI, 2SER RADIO MUSIC DIRECTOR] "...acclaimed electronic duo Ollo have dropped Ape Delay, a superb album of variation that sounds as if you’ve stepped back to the cool end of 1981. Featuring a myriad of vintage synthesiser wizardry,it’s well worth tracking down. One highlight Day For Night recalls the Drive soundtrack for eery atmosphere." [SCOUT.COM.AU] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7" SINGLE "It’s been a few years since we last heard from Sydney-based electronic duo Ollo, with the surprise emergence of this latest double A-side 7″ on Metal Postcard signalling the first taste of an upcoming new album, as well as a considerable stylistic shift. While Ollo’s preceding The If If album saw them adding textural and instrumental layers to their sound, the two tracks presented here represent a leaner electro-pop vehicle grounded around vintage analogue synths and the duo’s extensive collection of obscure retro-electronic records. On the A-side, ‘Transistor Resistor easily represents the jauntier side of the equation, with new drummer Rory Toomey laying down a rigid motorik beat against burbling analogue synth pulses and Alex Crowfoot’s oddly Hot Chip-meets-Devo vocal, the tension in his syllables nicely counterpointing the jerky, slightly nervous synth grooves. Over on the flip, ‘Full Stop Blue’ plays a considerably different card, taking things down into icy downbeat minimalism that’s more reminiscent of the likes of The Normal while Crowfoot offers up what’s easily the closest thing to a straight out love song that Ollo have done to date, the shimmering, icy synth pads adding just the right emotional edge whilst also teasing as to where Ollo may be headed next. As a bonus, you also get an additional download track ‘Ned Kelly In A Burqua’, which almost calls to mind a retro TV cop show chase theme, as clicking drum machines and funky bass synths wander against Crowfoot’s “you’re better off a thief” chorus hook. A welcome return that’s been worth the wait" [CHRIS DOWNTON :: CYCLIC DEFROST] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "FULL STOP BLUE" "A gorgeous and slow growing jam. Absolutely blissful" [DUBLAB :: USA May 2012] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SINGLE OF THE WEEK 18th April 2012 "The undeniably Kraftwerk-inspired A-Side Transistor Resistor is a blippy indulgence in analogue synthesiser joy with jerky vocals that bounce away happily on top. AA-side Full Stop Blue is minimal and beautiful, with a tiny drum beat and two chords pulsing away to create a pop song that suggests the simplicity and perfect electropop crafting of early New Order. It's all packaged in a beautifully lavish gatefold seven-inch" [CHRIS YATES :: TIME OFF MAGAZINE] |
THE IF IF [2006]
"If it’s not the trippy guitar solos on “summer salt” that weave you into the boys interplanetary web it’ll be the always shifting synth pads that reel you in and take you under"
[XLR8R :: USA] Full review here "The second album from Sydney’s Ollo, The If If, doesn’t disappoint; it’s a strange and imaginative collection of anti-pop songs that uses simple, melodic electronica to create trance-like soundscapes. ...an eerie and well crafted musical excursion where you never quite know where you’re heading, or where you’ve just been." [Rolling Stone :: 3.5 stars] "...an electro downbeat tour de force... has to be one of the best albums I have heard this year." [FurtherNoise :: UK] "Like an Aussie Beta Band with a touch of the kind of playful sound of acts like Department of Eagles, Errors and Tunng. Very promising." [Pure Groove :: UK] "Intimate and affecting" [Cyclic Defrost] "...a headphone treat... impressive" [3D World] "A sweaty and heaving carnival of hip jerking exotica... Classy stuff" [Losing Today :: UK] "ESSENTIAL STUFF..." [Rough Trade :: UK] 
SLEEPER [2002]
" An aural alchemist. This album is diverse and compelling while delivering something that is whole and complete."
[Tim Ritchie :: Radio National] " Sleeper is atmospheric, with a slight pop sensibility and a heady dose of jazz - a bit of moonless night with a touch of sun glinting off snow...perhaps I should take Ollo to the next party, they’re much more clever and fun than I." [XLR8R :: USA] Full review here “Sleeper is nothing short of great, great record... in a just world Sleeper's qualities would elevate the boys to the cultural heights currently ridden by kids like Manitoba, Fourtet & Prefuse 73" [VIBEWIRE.NET] "…sublime and satisfying." A strong debut, and great artwork" [3D World] "Addictive Summer listening." “A mesmerising journey" "Serious(ly) beautiful music and a carefree sense of humour” [inthemix.com.au :: Editor’s pick] "An amazing sonic journey" "Musically arresting and clever... perfectly plotted, yet never restrictive." "An Australian dance album to get excited about" [SX magazine] For "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)" “ The reworking of Fun Boy Three's The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum) by Sydney duo Ollo is simply the best song on the album. It has the rare spark of inspiration for a perfect piece of off-kilter pop music. Picked up by Triple J, it will be big.” [Canberra Times] |
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