Labels: Waking Records
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Now this is how to make a comp. A real good selection of bands documenting a scene that I guess you could vaguely push under a banner, but I won’t bother.
It’s been really well put together, the songs flow very well – rather like how a good mix tape would. It’s varied enough to not cause boredom, not overly
long (55 minutes) and comes with a nicely printed booklet to read too. The comp is a benefit for after school arts in New York City, at a school where Evan
(who put together this release) teaches. An interesting cause.
Lets see who is on here…
the Fiction – this track sounds a little different to their LP on Level Plane, but retains the same chaotic emo basis. Harsh, distorted vocals and explosive
guitars.
Scent of Human History – this is good stuff, I look forward to the split LP they have coming out. It’s kind of brooding emo, never totally going off like it
threatens to. I like the guitar sound on here. I guess you could compare the music to Shotmaker or something.
Hit Self Destruct – Spencer from the Shivering is on vocals here, this sounds different than the split 7″ they put out. Give the Shivering a Gravity
influence and you have Hit Self Destruct. Really good!
This Scares Me – fast and thrashy emo violence.
Helen of Troy – these guys rocked, past tense. They have split up. Yaphet Kotto style emo with grooves and melodies, just no sung vocals. As usual they have
a weird atmospheric breakdown. This song is familiar actually, maybe it was on one of their other releases.
Countdown to Putsch – the spoken vocals are amazing (interesting content too), but they come with weird jazz influenced music. Good stuff overall, just not
something I am that taken by musically.
Are You Fucking Serious – very messy punk / hardcore. probably they listen to a lot of early 80’s stuff or something that i don’t know much about.
Operation Latte Thunder – thrashy hardcore type stuff. sounds like a live recording, it’s a bit all over the shop. not bad. enjoyed the lyrics though.
Memory as Perfection – quirky emo with strange vocals, and a mix of chuggy and melodic guitars.
the South – you should know the South. Chaotic emo-violence similar to Palatka. Raw vocals. All Out.
A Day In Black And White – I am not really into metal
the Faeries – this is some weird shit, kinda like the Locust in a way, strange vocals indeed. Sorta grindy.
Turn Around Norman – this is from one of their previous releases I think, it’s familiar anyway. Yaphet Kotto style emo with boy+girl vocals. Intense. Great
band.
Hurrah – really dirty sounding stuff that is hard to describe! the vocals are distorted to the max, but there is something good going on here. it makes me
think of Agna Moraines Autobiography with it’s peculiarities.
Books Lie – the Lie dish out some angry and fast hardcore here, with much “tougher” sounding vocals now that Eric isn’t in the band any more. Straight
forward and old skool.
A Petal Fallen – these guys have that melodic screamy emo sound, a variation on the whole Saetia / Portrait / Spirit of Versailles thing. you know the drill.
they are good at it too.
Dead City – rounds things off. they a misleadingly grandiose intro that makes you think it’s going to be a slowburning instrumental, then it turns into an
energetic old school hardcore blaster, although they break things down again later on.
So there you have it. It doesn’t score with every track, but that’s because it’s not afraid to throw some different stuff at you. One of the best comps I have heard in a long while, nice jawb!