Choice – a great thing, especially if you understand the path you take will have consequences. It’s equally true that in music terms the amount of choice at your disposal tends to be proportional to success, however New Yorkers Bodega have certainly enjoyed pushing that particular envelope.
In case you were wondering, that’s because they took time out to completely re-record their 2015 outing Our Brand Could Be Your Life, whilst their latest is a big step away from the hardcore punk of Rot In Helvetica, released under the Nodega alter ego.
All Inside Aquarium marked the first time the quintet had left home to record, ending up in Leeds at Matt Peel’s (Eagulls, Yard Act) studio The Nave. At the same time co-singer Ben Hozie decided to ditch some of their post-punk colour, heading into early nineties territory via the likes of Jane’s Addiction and The Stone Roses. As it sounds, the effect is liberating, with Pick Up The Check, the titular opener and a bold cover of Bob Dylan’s Slow Train all working out, whilst the Nikki Belfiglio voiced Weather Me and Oxygen are both fine counterpoints. Choice is a good thing – and on All Inside Aquarium Bodega choose to be a rock out version of themselves. It suits them.
You can read a full review here.
