Head Like A Kite is presenting an indie-friendly gimmick focusing on film.

Artist: Head Like A Kite
Album: Random Portraits of the Home Movie
Label: Pattern 25 Records
Tracks: 15
Review By: Jacob Gehman

Indie is a great term that can pinpoint a person’s specific music taste without actually specifying a certain sound. Sure, saying that you like indie music strongly implies that you like music like Death Cab For Cutie or Pedro The Lion. But it also often means you like music like Fugazi or Modest Mouse, neither of whom sound anything like Death Cab or Pedro. But they also fit under the indie rock blanket (never mind whether they are actually independent or not). Meaning, indie music has a lot in common with Christian music. Both branches of music are categorized more by the thought behind the music than the actual sound the band puts forth. Which is why labeling Head Like A Kite as indie only gives the band a potential fan base rather than an idea of how they sound.

From the album artwork to the title and promotional blurbs it is obvious that Head Like A Kite is presenting an indie-friendly gimmick focusing on film. Indeed, before even hearing the album you half expect them to be the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players of moving pictures. The blurb on the Pattern 25 webpage proclaims, “Head Like a Kite melds sunny bliptropic beats with lush indie soundscapes inspired by sounds sampled from Super 8 home movies.”

Unfortunately, other than three short, atmospheric (and largely unimportant) tracks there isn’t anything sonically or lyrically that hint towards Head Like A Kite’s apparent home film fascination. Instead, listeners get to hear some nice, lush indie rock ala Viva Voce with some Radiohead and Jem influence. Electronic elements are frequent, but blend in well with the indie rock styling. The songs taken individually are quite interesting, though as a whole the album starts to feel kind of tame.

While I was expecting an album more unique than was delivered, this is still a delightful album recommended for fans of Viva Voce, Smoosh (who makes a guest appearance), and Radiohead.