Crisply produced by
Mitch Easter, the
Doleful Lions' buoyant debut album resurrects the jangle pop sound of an era gone by; haunted by the ghosts of
Let's Active, the
dB's, and
Miracle Legion,
Motel Swim nicely fills the void created by their absence, deftly approximating the ringing guitars, clever melodies, and ingratiating hooks which made those bands so memorable. The opening "The Sound of Cologne" -- a loving celebration of the Krautrock movement which name-checks everyone from
Can to
Cluster (and in its most winning couplet compares
Neu! to the
Beach Boys) -- is an instant classic, and although the remainder of the album doesn't reach quite the same peaks, tracks like "One Revolution (Around the World)," "Gulliver Diver," and the evocative title cut all soar as well. A fine debut.