If you’re looking for down-to-earth music from down-to-earth people, the ZDF-Fernsehgarten is the place to be. It’s a great way to unwind and enjoy some simple, laid-back tunes—life can be so simple. The following two nature boys don’t appear on Sunday afternoon TV shows like that. Group Listening still make honest music that sounds like a walk in the woods and a stitch in the side, with a bit of clarinet and piano thrown in for good measure—in any case, it sounds like movement, which is good: Their fourth album on PRAH is not called »Walks« for nothing. So you limp along behind them and think all sorts of things, because you’re good at coming up with new ideas when you’re out on a walk. And then you end up saying things you immediately regret, but the fresh air does you good! I should also mention that this album is also playground ambient, which is a nice change of pace. It lets off steam, gets out of the art room and doesn’t just swing the microphone out of the window all the time. You can certainly listen to it while dreaming, or while relaxing in that reservoir of groundedness, aka the bathtub.
Scott Gordon
Metals
Diagonal