Double Exposure is the naturally the second album by Penny Arcade who are the solo project of James Hoare from Veronica Falls, Ultimate Painting and Proper Ornaments. They are not to be confused with the New York legend Penny Arcade or any of the many other bands of the same name. The album was recorded on a 16-track tape recorder, old school, often one-take and semi-improvised album of a dozen songs in half an hour.
The album opens with the woozy Regrets like they can just about remember what happened, they know they should have Regrets for what was said and done, but are not sure they can get up the energy to do anything, while the insistent droning riff drives them on, out of the torpor, towards a way of expressing those regrets perfectly.
Memory Lane is a slow hazy wander through the things that remind me of you, a slow drum machine, delicate strings quavering in the background, feeling slightly insane whenever he sees anyone who looks like you, he's gently haunted and ever so slightly freaked out.
Worst Trip sounds like it was recorded in recovery, barely able to raise themselves from the pit of despair they are in, the voices in there heads have taken over again, if they whisper it quietly enough maybe the voices will shut up and everything will return to reality, does this buzz really last 17 hours, I've only been up for three and just want it to end, when will it end. While I would happily listen to this for a good long while.
You've Got The Key has a gentle bucolic freak folk feel, to a story about finally winning the trust to be given a key, an answer to life's mysteries along with the search for the most sun dappled guitar figure you can find, dreaming of beat happenings.
Everything's Easy they are happy together, no worries and nothing to get worked up about, chilled out strummed guitars, slowly picked, finding more ways to seem relaxed together. Rear View Mirror they have hit the road with just a bongo effect drum pattern for company, they hope they are getting near it, while the horror is fading away in the Rear View Mirror.
Time has a hushed vocals in the middle of the night, singing over stark Casio keys and the simplest drum machine pattern, making clear you just have to keep moving on, Time waits for no man, it's time for new adventures.
Instrumental No.1 is not a cover of any other tunes of the same name you may have in your record collection. This is a woozy shuffle with some cool spacey guitar and tremulous keyboards. We used to Be Good Friends is a downbeat song with treated vocals for memories of when you used to get along just fine, before it all went awry, in the key of friends who fell out over drug bills and other shenanigans before the guitars go all Pierre Etoile like the cataclysmic end of a friendship.
Mercy is a very short organ ident. The album ends with Riverside Drive that is a slightly hazy reflection of a late-night drive alongside Riverside Drive and how it makes you feel, hoping you can hide away for days and finally get some peace.
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