Convertible – Holst Gate LP (Noise Appeal Records)

“Holst Gate” is the fifth full-length album by Convertible, a Hans Platzgumer’s quintet. You had a chance to read about this interesting band on our pages before, and you probably caught my reviews about “Holst Gate II” CD and “Final Call / Free” 7″. For those who have missed those articles, Convertible nurtures such a rich and luxurious sound based upon various combinations of complementary music genres. Actually, Convertible’s unique sound defies any pinpoining to the particular genre. Perhaps indie rock comes to mind first, but there are also explorations into the fundaments of indie pop, alt-pop, art rock, alternative, and many other styles. With great assurance, I can state that Convertible showcases Platzgumer’s brilliance, where his taste in music and marvelous ideas collide into a colossal slab of harmonious sounds.

The album commences with a “Final Call,” a song that also appeared on “Final Call / Free” 7″. It’s a calm, soothing, relaxing, downtempo composition decorated with many profoundly detailed instrumentations, focusing on magnificent piano performance and Platzgumer’s outstanding vocal abilities. One of my favorite songs off this album, “Sandy Beaches,” comes up next. For some reason, this composition carries some Talking Heads-que vibes thanks to the art rock-inspired guitar works, detailed basslines, and well-accentuated drums. Platzgumer’s voice perfectly fits this sonic equation from scratch to finish by decorating all these segments and instrumentations. “The Gate,” “Better Day,” and “Shadow Scene” showcase some classic Convertible vibes by resonating with magnificent half-step drumming sequences, intricate piano leads, various vocal maneuvers, and guitars that come like a cherry over the top. These three songs demonstrate all the experience, knowledge, skills, talent, ideas, and musicianship of Platzgumer and his band.

“The March” is another highlight of this material with all the hypnotic backbeats, marvelous brass section, even more complex piano leads, equally detailed basslines, and guitars that probably shine here the most. Platzgumer’s perfect balance between low, mid, and high notes emphasizes everything the remainder of the band tried to achieve with this track, while the back vocals enhance particular segments. “You Is Me” returns to downtempo waters where piano and bass guitar dominate the most. It’s a marvelous ballad that signifies the closure of the album and announces “Free,” another track from the “Final Call / Free” 7″. “Free” has a sonic universe on its own, and is one of the best Convertible songs ever. Platzgumer’s whispery voice calms the listeners and prepares them for the imminent closure of such an incredible masterpiece.

Like always, Noise Appeal Records did their best with the packaging. The high-quality record jacket holds a photo of a convertible on parade. Holst Gate’s visual appearance invites listeners to immediately put on this beautiful black vinyl and dive deep into Convertible’s luxurious sound. The vinyl is still available at the Noise Appeal, so head to their web store and order it as soon as possible.