The Puddle

I'm not in any way qualified to be talking about music. There is a reason that this is not a music blog. Equal parts apathy and ignorance, utter inability, and a certain aesthetic comfort with the same old stuff all put me in the category of musical philistine. At best, I can sometimes pass myself off as vaguely knowledgeable by prattling off whatever snippets of trivia I might have pilfered from the conversations of those more in the know. I do, however, know what I like, and even if I can't give the most convincing account of why I like it, I can maybe try to let the strength of my conviction stand as its own explanation.

We Fled Cairo are more than a big deal. I don't know how to describe their music in the conventional sense, and I would probably sound confusing if I tried. I will say that their songs have an almost transcendent quality to them, a complexity that draws you in and speaks to you without the crutch of mere words. It's profound and re-assuring, uplifting and thoroughly danceable. They really have something special, maybe even more special than they would often care to admit.

I would highly recommend listening to their first album, available for free on the website at wefledcairo.com . They sound just as good live as they do on tape. I had the fortune last night of being in the right place at the right time and was one of the lucky few who were treated to a little impromptu performance. It was great to duck under pipes and beams in the close quarters of the basement to watch them rock out. I think Richard summed it up best when asked about what makes them tick: "Dave is a really amazing musician, and I listen to The Beatles a lot."

This is some rather questionable footage of last night's "show." If they ever start handing out awards for really bad videos shot with off-brand cell phone cameras, I'll probably be a pretty strong contender.