Review by: Oli Saunders
Red Dunes, a side project of The Scarecrow Frequency, released an album in 2009 and then in 2011. Whilst the band flies way under the radar even at the DIY level, it remains unique and special music. Now and again I look back at how most of the music on The Static Cult satisfies that statement; it is virtually all worth checking out if you want to explore what can be done with slowcore.
Seven years later John Argetsinger is back with a new album (there was also a b-side album a few years back). Gone are the audio samples about dinosaurs or sharks but what remains is the backwards drum beats (nicely combined with a forward beat on the first track) and his sombre vocals. The lyrics aren’t printed but perhaps that’s for the best, since this is a highly personal album (mostly) about heartbreak. It is beautiful but miserable. ‘Hunted by the Night’ is particularly sad and the more the album progresses the more it wears me down; actually, it is a challenge to make it through the whole thing. You’ll know by now if such a thing appeals to you so I’ll leave it at that.
19th May 2018