Tall Dwarfs, Throw a Sickie (12" EP)

Levity has always played a prominent role in the Tall Dwarfs' work.  While 1986's Throw a Sickie still oozes with charm and humor, its dark and unsettling side is more prominent than on any other Tall Dwarfs release.  The very short songs move from conventional pop song structure, a bit further than usual.  Where the textures surrounding the simple melodies are usually light and airy, here they bring a bit starker undercurrent below the foreground tunes.  Even "Road & Hedgehog", which is probably the friendliest and most memorable track here, submerges the vocals some in a dense palette.  Chris Knox tells a story of physical sickness enveloping the sessions where Throw a Sickie was created, and the Dwarfs can be seen sweating and grimacing in the cartoon-y cover drawing.  The duo's usual lo-fi tendencies remain here — apart from slightly quieter vocals, the sonic imprint departs little from the Dwarfs' usual blueprint.