Pedals fulfills the immense promise of
the Aluminum Group's previous recordings, largely dispensing of the derivative synth-pop detours which hampered the preceding
Plano to concentrate instead on the lush, darkly romantic, orchestral arrangements distinguishing the band's finest work. Co-produced by
Jim O'Rourke, whose own masterpiece Eureka the record most closely recalls,
Pedals' grandiose designs become immediately apparent with the opening "Rose Selavy's Valise," a nine-minute pocket symphony and the most ambitious song
Frank and
John Navin brothers have created to date. This majestic but subtly-shaded epic builds with grace and precision, and its moody synth washes, shimmering guitars, and string and horn flourishes perfectly set the tone for the remainder of the disc. As before, the suave elegance and cool surfaces of
Aluminum Group's compositions belie the poison-pen temperament of the brothers' lyrics; the withering putdowns and snarky come-ons from before are joined this time out by a surfeit of arch literary allusions, but the songs' scathing wit deflates even the loftiest pretensions -- not only is
Pedals the band's most bitter pill yet, it's also the easiest to swallow. ~ Jason Ankeny