Labels: Function
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Being a staunch vinyl fetishist (records damn it, not the clothes!) I am always a little wary of the CD single. I suppose it is because the stuff in me brain connects such things with HMV stacking a shelf full of seventh rate indie bands ‘new releases’ on a Monday morning, and the exact same shelf still having the exact same number of CD’s on it come chart counting time. Luckily Lebatol do a mighty fine job of dispelling my self created myth about the CD single by knocking out 3 varied choons on here.
The titular “Rate” kicks things off, and it is my favourite of the triumvurate of tracks that appear here. It’s a highly melodic indie rock effort, but it packs in enough aggression and edgey guitars to carry off the sound with great aplomb. It sort of reminds me of early Superchunk with it’s upbeat and pleasingly danceable manner, except the vocals are nothing like Superchunk. Maybe if the guy from Superchunk sang with a mouthful of tarmacadam. It’s gravelly voiced and a tad throaty. Works well. Good song! After that we have Utica (some obscure place in America) and it’s quite different, the vocals lose their roar and the track is more repetitious, with the bubbly bass being more prominent here. Again I suppose it’s not too far removed from something like Superchunk or even Braid (though less mathy), with a touch of post-rock thrown into the mix. Which is where they head completely on “Mars Hill”, a slumbering instrumental number that has a touch of the Mogwai’s (though not as atmospheric). Not bad at all, though I preferred the rockier stuff. Solid record! They are touring and stuff, so give ’em a look if it sounds up your street.