Labels: Saddam Hussein Records
Review by: Samuel Fowler
I wish I played instruments, and knew anything about playing music then I’d be able to look all important and pontificate about time signatures, guitar tones and complicated sounding music stuff I don’t have a clue about. The first few times I listened to this I didn’t understand it as it sounded like a huge splattery mess. But then you understand that’s what makes them something a bit different than all those 400 other math/indie/pop/boring bands BSM haven’t gotten round to signing yet. Lots of discordant parts all swerving around with vocals that almost don’t fit in places and weird jarry bits. I think it’s what makes them interesting, no matter how many times you listen and KNOW it’s not going to happen, you still harbour this suspicion that about half way through any any given song it’s all going to chaotically fall apart, they’ll end up on the floor in a pile of broken instruments and yelping a lot.
I think that’s what it is… they’re exciting because, it’s hard to tell exactly whats going to happen next. If youy want an idiotic comparison, the first Planes Mistaken For Stars record had this vibe, where it felt like it was all going to fall to fuck and break at any moment but they somehow hold it together defying the odds. They’re also crazily upbeat, they clearly wrote most of these songs whilst sat around laughing, eating icecream and reading comics.
It can all get a bit much at times though. It’d be nice if some of the songs settled slightly rather than suddenly mutating and jumping at the side of my face when I think I’ve got them all figured out and sorted. It’s like trying to watch one of those celebrity chef type programmes where the camera changes angles every few seconds I JUST WANT TO SEE THE FOOD OKAY? stop fricking teasing me.
Looking back I realise I’ve written not much of any specific use, explained very little about them and generally been not very helpful… This is absolutely the correct thing to listen to at 7.45 on a January morning when it’s all cold and shitty outside and your head refuses to wake up. Solid, and much more to offer than many other bands doing this style. Also the guitarist does have a good beard. That counts for a lot.