The trio's first record was a bit tentative compared to the truly awesome, powerful shows and releases that would yet be in the offing, but as a fine if at times clearly derivative debut,
Hugo Strange finds
Paik well-positioned to explore its love of instrumental shoegaze power. Rob Smith is pretty much the star of the show; he has his effects pedals (indeed, there's a heap of them shown in a booklet photo) and uses them plenty and often. If there's an obvious criticism, it's that so many songs follow the same path -- a "clean" lead melody or motif, a cranking of the amps and digital delays, a quieter conclusion. But with results like the slow majestic grind of "Duster" and the really beautiful "Tessai," the complaints aren't all that much. The Ali Clegg/Ryan Pritts rhythm section is fine without being notably remarkable here, though there are some moments of individual flash (Pritts' slow drum breaks on "Mr. Gone," Clegg's general way around deep moods that Simon Gallup would approve of). There's other hints of
the Cure's melancholy, as well as
My Bloody Valentine's queasiness ("Clouds" pretty much demonstrates that a few seconds in, as does "E. Grim") and
Slowdive's steady, awesome majesty. All in all,
Hugo Strange is enjoyable rather than remarkable, but that's no reason not to give it a listen if the inclination to those sounds and styles are there. ~ Ned Raggett