Labels: Sub Pop
Review by: Luke Younger
Sub Pop seems to be doing something right these days. After a totally lame period of churning out disco for emo kids (Hot Hot Heat), electronica for emo kids (Postal Service) and country for emo kids (Iron & Wine, Damien Jurado), they have gone and signed the most speaker destroying, mind melting, skull stabbing, ass fucking band on the planet…yes dudes, WOLF EYES! Oh yeah, and Comets on Fire too…
So “Blue Cathedral” is make or break time I guess for this band. I’m not going to lie to you, their previous two records are fucking dynamite, and if you don’t own them then you need to stop reading this and start realising what the fuck you’re doing with your life. I’m serious, just ask Julian Cope! The first thing I noticed when I listened to this, is that they’ve mellowed slightly and done what most bands do when they hit their 3rd l.p, and that is become more focused with their “direction”. I hate that word, it sounds so serious! But whatever… the first track here, “The Bee and the Crackin’ Egg” is a cruiser – ie: they know what they’re doing, and it’s ok, but they know they can do better and so do I. Unlike their previous work, it doesn’t instantly jump out at you and slap you upside your face with low and high end battling for domination, it just kind of does enough to let you know that they have arrived, and it’s time for you to shut the fuck up and listen. This record does have it’s all out sonic screamers, but they are interspersed with a number of mellower moments that bring to mind Lizard-era King Crimson at points! This makes the record more consistant overall, and you get the feeling that there is at least some progression in what you’re listening to, unlike their last two records. And don’t get me wrong, I love listening to COF kick out the jams mindlessly, completely destroying my brain cells, but on this new offering it’s nice to hear something a bit different. There is also (I’m presuming – I don’t have any sleevenotes!) another appearance from Ben Chasny from Six Organs of Admittance, laying some apocalyptic guitar jam, which is one of the records darker moments.
I’d probably say this is one of the best records that’s appeared this year, and if you are new to Comets on Fire definatley pick it up, but maybe get “Field Recordings…” first, cos y’know…I know how short some of you dudes attention spans are…………..HAHAHA. PSYCH! Oh dear!