Savath & Savalas – Apropa’t

Apparently They Don’t Sell Jolt Cola in Spain

Upon first listening to Savath & Savalas’ new album, Apropa’t, I have to admit I wasn’t feeling it. Perhaps this was because I was expecting another Prefuse 73 record. But then, a couple of nights ago as I was returning from a party, I found myself driving down an empty Santa Monica Blvd at 3 in the morning listening to S&S’ latest offering. And you know what? It was probably the most beautiful album I could have ever chosen to listen to at the moment.Savath & Savalas is just one of Scott Herren’s many faces. Better known as the avant-garde producer Prefuse 73, Herren’s collaboration with Spanish singer/songwriter Eva Puyuelo is the core of S&S. However, if you’re expecting to hear a follow-up to Prefuse’s One Word Extinguisher, you’re in for a surprise.

Apropa’t is a far cry from Herren’s work under his Prefuse 73 alias. At just over 40 minutes long, the album is extremely textured and does not vary much. A mix of acoustic guitar, piano, and other less common instruments such as the concertina and harmonium replace Herren’s style of instrumental hip-hop and the glitch effects he is famous for. Songs are long and drawn out. Herren and Puyuelo’s vocals, while beautiful, are too soft to make an impression and tend to get lost in the background. The pace of the album rarely changes except for the occasional crescendo and the start/stop times between tracks are barely discernible. It is therefore important to remember that Apropa’t is a “mood” album – it works in times of sorrow, while studying, at Starbucks, or simply while driving in the rain.