Temper & Hold - Too Soon To Tell - CD (2014)

Labels: Grafton
Review by: Andy Malcolm

Remember when Andi Camp made music with Mark Allen Rodgers? Sure you do, you read CZ, you like emo right? Remember the Brightest Comet and wishing for years that something would come of that band and it never happened? It’s time to stop wishing. Here’s Temper & Hold everybody. Here is a whole lot of emo riffage, and a whole lot of Camp letting it all out. This is the kind of music that no-one even tries to make in 2014. The music is serious, the riffs are furiously intent, and it delivers on pretty much all expectations and promises you ever made up in your own mind. Every song has stunning parts that you have dreamt for more of ever since you ordered Camp Fire Dares the Sun off No Karma. The second half of “œThe Last Together” is particularly jaw dropping. The bass, the guitar, the vocals, it all swirls around in a stunning combination of the glorious. “œThe Sky Alight / In Ruins” has sinuous guitars in a Party of Helicopters fashion. “œYou Don’t Know Me” flips out, all frenetic guitars, Yaphet Kotto with entirely sung vocals. You’ve gotta be kidding me. “œTreasure”, it’s a treasure, I am blown away. I could make statements about every song on here but why bother, if you know who this band is you want it, if you don’t, get it together. This is the exact music that anyone who ever didn’t get over it when Shipley implored you to in 1997 wants to be hearing in 2014.

p.s. And it’s all wrapped up in a textured case, pure Grafton style. This is the one you’ve been waiting for.