Live Review: LISTEN: Dirty Beaches 'Casino Lisboa'

8 May 2013 | 9:03 am | Caitlin Medcalf
Originally Appeared In

Defined by a continuous output of original material, “Casino Lisboa” is the third track off of DIRTY BEACHES’ forthcoming LP Drifters/Love is the Devil.

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Defined by a definite sound and continuous output of original material, “Casino Lisboa” is the third track off of DIRTY BEACHES’ soon-to-be-released LP Drifters/Love is the Devil. The favourable synth is quite obvious as one of Alex Hungtai’s go-to-gadgets.

His repertoire is quite extensive, with his itinerary ranging from synth, to guitar, to vocals, a man of many weapons. Throughout the entirety of his discography, Alex Zhang Hungtai’s solo project, DIRTY BEACHES has shown an extensive approach to the whole broody-late-50’s-nightlife feel, but nothing quite like the aura of “Casino Lisboa”. 

Opening with an underground kung-fu feel, the bass riff tumbles abruptly into the mix, defined by a bongo and the kind of fucked up distortion we wouldn’t so much hear from any usual or typical track of the lo-fi genre. The kick-ass backdrop is emphasised by the voice of DIRTY BEACHES. The low-fidelity characteristic resonates definitely throughout the songs entirety. The enigmatic nature of the band’s music is also another odd quirk, which is highlighted quite particularly in “Casino Lisboa”.

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The perfect soundtrack to a night of wrongdoing or mischief, “Casino Lisboa” is almost the definition of demented beauty, the juxtaposition from hell.

Words by Caitlin Medcalf

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