Cake on Cake – I Guess I Was Daydreaming (CD)

The dreamy opening to “I Guess I Was Daydreaming” allows Cake on Cake to give individuals a foundation for which to base opinions of the album off of. There is a smart decision made by Cake on Cake at the beginning of the disc, as the first track barely cracks the two minute mark. Having such a short track opening up the album allows for two different styles to come forth early: that presented in “Come on Rainbow” and that of “Sea-Microphone”. Each of the subsequent songs works within that same general, dreamy framework. There is no paucity of instrumentation or differentiation in the arrangements present on “I Guess I Was Daydreaming”.

There are hints of Sade, Sinead O’Connor, Enigma, and Enya present during songs like the title track, which has a path and structure beyond that what any of the previously mentioned artists have. For individuals that have been inculcated into the divas pumping out dance hits, Cake on Cake may not be an album that can easily be picked up. The album is heavily linked to indie rock, and this influence is present throughout the album. There is cohesion abounds during “I Guess I Was Daydreaming”, and an individual can be of a split mind here. One can easily say that there is enough in the way of modifications made to keep individuals interested, but the cohesion of the tracks may just be too much, stifling further development by Cake on Cake.

“We Want To Be Happy” is the first track that breaks completely free from the mold that had been settling since “Come On Rainbow”. During this track, Cake on Cake provide new instruments and change up the dreamy pop landscape which they had created all those years ago. None of the tracks on “I Guess I Was Daydreaming” would easily make it into pop radio stations, but the talent exerted by Cake on Cake during every track on this album is enough to ensure that a number of college stations will pick up this album, bringing it up the CMJ charts and giving further publicity. Cake on Cake’s “I Guess I Was Daydreaming” is a sleeper hit of the year, and while individuals may not know about the album at this point of time, it may just be a purchase that is worth searching independent record stores out for. Pick it up if it sounds interesting.

Top Tracks: Sparrow Parade, Slowly Slowly

Rating: 6.1/10

[JMcQ]

Cake on Cake – I Guess I Was Daydreaming / 2006 Desolation / 15 Tracks / http://www.cakeoncake.com / http://www.desolationrecords.com / Reviewed 25 December 2006