Labels: self released
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Santo Caserio is the Portugese name for Father Christmas (no it is not), and on this
here 4 track CDR (that I have just put in my CD player upside down), this band from
Gondwanaland (they are actually from Scotland) do music of a noisy variety. Initially
they lull you into a false sense of security by playing some Chicago-ey post rock,
with sax and bass and moods. It is nice, I am pretty sure I have some records knocking
around somewhere that are like this. After that intro song though they set about your
head with baseball bats in an attempt to turn it into a bloody pulp, starting with “I
Didn’t Get the Joke Until I Realised the Joke Was On Me”, which combines brutalised
emo violence and harsh screaming with melodic parts and drunken sounding vocals. It
works pretty well, they also have an emo break in this track. The chaotic hardcore
part of their sound is pure Witching Hour, and is sure to appeal to anyone who hordes
every single bloody record that label put out (e.g. me), but they also mix it up with
the more subtle moments, probably induced by mad drugs or being from Scotland. The
charmingly named “Pulped Intestine and Faecal Matter is the New Black” is my favourite
choon present on the disc, and it is the one that goes most hell for leather. Quality
doomy Orchid-esque intro precedes a rather cracking effort. This track has some more
of that jazzy post-rock stuff going on at one point, and it works. Lastly we have “The
Drawbacks of Starch Based Diet”, that is a solid mid-paced doodad which is much more
melodic initially. Brooding guitar and strained vocals take the forefront, although
they do bring the noise too, especially on the drawn out finale, making for a good
contrast.
The stuff on here will become a 7 inch shortly, so keep your eyes open. Although not mindblowing, this is a fine start, and it is good to hear a
new UK band doing something a little out of the ordinary.