Feature - s/t - Tape (2015)

Labels: ruined smile
Review by: Andy Malcolm

Ruined Smile have collected together 5 songs from a couple of UK releases (a tape on Tye Die previously reviewed on this very page and a split with Slowcoaches 7″ on Unwork) for this tape release down under. Having not heard either, this was fresh for me and pretty good it is too. The music is kinda lo-fi, energetic indie rock which leans on some darker post punk elements. There are some great harmonies going on here that really take it to the next level, in the same way wot they do (did?) for Grass Widow. There is a pretty obvious dividing line between the two releases, with the songs from the original tape sounding a little rougher and the 7″ bolstering things somewhat with some lovely chunky basslines forcing “œWisdom Teeth” along in a familiarly grungey fashion. Good batch of 5 songs here, worth investigating if you haven’t already.