White Elephant is a new collaboration between electronic musicians Chris Todd and Jim Baron, previously of electronic band Crazy P, and Ben "BJ" Smith, who was one half of Smith & Mudd.
The new album is called World Elephant Day. I chanced across it amongst Qobuz featured new releases and am very pleased to do so. I had no idea who they were on first listening and am still none the wiser. I am unfamiliar with their previous incarnations.
I often shy away from new releases that carry the genre title of electronic. I am very much an analogue man, preferring to listen to a mix of instruments and not just sounds made by a computer.
I listened for the first time in my Audison Voce II, Forza, and Prima-equipped car. All of the tracks are laced with great hooks, engaging melodies and the most exquisite mid-bass, which, as we all know, is an area where standard factory audio always falls down.
Track three on the album is called Still Stills. It begins with an acoustic guitar quickly joined by an electronic drum kit and a single synth bass note, reminiscent of Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City". At 48 seconds, close harmony vocals enter. I had no idea what influenced the name of the song, but I immediately thought of early Crosby, Stills, and Nash, who were famous for close harmony vocals. I may have to contact the band to see if Steven Stills was the inspiration for the song's title. In fact, I contacted the band and asked them about this theory, and received this in response:
Good morning CarlYes you are correct. The title is a reference to Stephen Stills. We grew up on CSNY, alongside many other great troubadours, so close harmonies resonate with us.The title is also a suggestion to stop and be still. Be still in a moment. Take notice of the present.Many thanks for your support.
At 1m25s we are introduced to a highly catchy chorus with a standout lyric, "This ordinary world doesn't get better..." which repeats three times before a pause with a strong resolve chord holding the attention. The main theme accompaniment resumes this time with a synthesiser motive which could also have appeared in the aforementioned Stevie Wonder track. I am not in any way suggesting this was lifted, more influenced by, and used to great effect.
The second verse "happens forth," and by this time, my head is nodding, and if I hadn't been driving, I would definitely be tapping my feet. The second chorus expands on the harmonic theme of the first with a similar breakdown and return to the main accompaniment, which by now was making me smile. An electric bass guitar picks up a theme from the acoustic guitar part and plays it in unison with the guitar to the end of the track.
All in all, this was the happiest 4m26s I have spent in my car for a long time!
The rest of the album is just as fresh, beautifully recorded, and mastered and catchy as this track, and I thoroughly recommend listening to the whole album on your next drive!
Listen out for all the things I have pointed out. If your audio system is any good, this should not be difficult due to the fantastic Hi-Res rendering delivered by Qobuz!
Good work, White Elephant. I look forward to your second album, and maybe a tour?