Hi Fi - Moods for Mallards

Name: Hi Fi
Album: Moods for Mallards
Year: 1982
Style: New Wave, Power-Pop
Similar Bands: San Cisco, Ian Matthews solo, Pavlov's Dog,
One-Word Review: Light, Blue Collar New Wave
Based Out Of: Seattle, WA
Label: First American / Emerald Isle

 Cover, Lyrics, Record

Back, Lyrics Record

Moods for Mallards

1. Walk Away 4:05
2. Blue Shirt 4:03
3. Holding Out For Rain 5:20
4. Throw A Line 3:50
5. S.O.S. 2:38 /
6. Knocking on Your Door 4:20
7. Desire 4:17
8. Time After Time 3:56
9. When You Were Mine 4:28
10. Alcohol 2:45

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Bob Briley - Drums (Carole Stirn)
• Garey Shelton - Bass, Backing Vox (Allies, Halyards, Jr Cadillac, Uncle Bonsai, Eric Tingstad, Life 9)
• Bruce Hazen -Guitar, Prophet V, Backing Vox (Life 9)
• Ian Matthews - Vox, Guitar, Producer (Fairpoint Convention, Hamilton Pool, Matthew's Southern Comfort, More Than A Song, Ian Ad Venture, Pyramid, Andy Roberts, Plainsong, Richard Thompson, Matinee Idols)
• David Surkamp - Vox, Guitar (Pavlov's Dog, Touch, St. Louis Hounds, Matinee Idols)
• Jackie Renn - Photos
• Art Chantry - Jacket Design
• Tim Killeen - Producer
• Joe Hadlock - Producer

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them, but it looks like a typical campy, silly new wave record; between the play on words of the Elvis Costello song Moods for Moderns, and the duck dance-step patterns on the cover. Hoping for a jittery, fun new wave record.

Album Review: The songs come off as a wolf in sheep's clothing so to speak, as the attempt was made to make catchy new wave, but most of the songs fall short of real new wave appeal. The band is promoted as a duo of Ian Matthews and David Surkamp, who both are famous for their history in other folk rock and prog bands. They cover Prince's When You Were Mine, and it sounds pretty true to the source, as it is designed to be a chugging power-pop song. Throw a line has the most to offer the new wave genre, with a driving melody, synth elements, falsetto vocals and a real catchy chorus, which could fit into modern band catalogues like San Cisco.

Stand Out Track: Throw A Line

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