Real Life is No Cool by Lindstrom and Christabelle
LABEL: Feedelity

Hans-Peter Lindstrøm is one of those names in modern electronic music that carries a certain cache. When a random remix is adorned with that name featuring the funny Scandinavian letter, the hype machine silently penetrates your brain and sends signals to your iTunes clicking fingers saying, “the source material doesn’t matter—it’s safe to assume Lindstrøm did this bad boy a solid.”

But when your pointer lingers a little longer on Real Life Is No Cool, the Norwegian’s latest team effort with countrywoman Christabelle, don’t feel guilty when the hype lulls you into purchase mode because this one is well worth its boat load of buzz.

The album takes flight with stutters, shuffles, inquisitive lyrics and a bit of disco piano on the pleasantly pulsating “Looking For What.”  Christabelle rolls into the groove with a raspy conversational tone … speaking more than singing. And as the piano, guitar and synths gradually build, she sheds the vacant pleading and glides gracefully into bits and pieces of song.

“Real Life Is No Cool is essentially a string of sonic experiments rooted in a 70s electro disco revival, woven together by wisps and tendrils of Christabelle’s smoky vocals and breathy wanderings.”

Real Life Is No Cool peaks only one song later on “Lovesick,” a roller disco ready tune that is quite simply dripping in spandex, Aqua Net and blue eye shadow. Despite incredible production from Lindstrøm, Christabelle steals the show with hazy, chatty verses that perfectly punctuate a chorus of wavy synths, poignant piano punches and satisfying digital drum claps.

Musically, the album’s later tracks like “Music In My Mind” and “Baby Can’t Stop” are denser, more thoughtful and honestly, more interesting overall arrangements. But Lindstrøm and Christabelle’s decision to push the latter’s voice into full fledged croon rather than sticking with the sexy, breathy speak/sing thing gives otherwise incredible tunes an unnecessary air of mediocrity. 

Though the album dips a bit in the middle, it climbs back up on a plateau to close out the disc with a couple excellent tunes in the stoned out and spacey “High & Low” and delightfully manic “So Much Fun.”  

Real Life Is No Cool is essentially a string of sonic experiments rooted in a 70s electro disco revival, woven together by wisps and tendrils of Christabelle’s smoky vocals and breathy wanderings. It’s familiar without being derivative and it’s well worth your time. 


REVIEWED BY ALEC BRINEGAR
STANDOUT TRACKS: "Looking For What" • "Lovesick" • "High & Low"