Dream Caste - A Calmer Room - Tape (2013)

Labels: Dreamdiver – KYEO speaks
Review by: Andy Malcolm

Dream Caste (chortle) come roaring out of California in a fatal death spiral brought on by sonic collapse. It’s a spectacular muddle of mid 90s Gravity mess and late 90s Witching Hour fuss. Guys just yelling and flailing whilst they make haphazard melody and no nonsense rhythmical bluster. Here and there are flurries that recall Angel Hair, but this is true DIY, these guys wouldn’t pass muster for the Angel Hair third string on talent alone. Fortunately, they make up for it with INTANGIBLES. It’s what every coach wants. Second song “œIt’s A Good Day To Be A Chair” oozes mid 90s understanding, cramming in a bunch of things that make you think of fine bands, but bands you’d never quite want to all turn up at the same time. Somehow, it works. I think that’s what I take most from this 5 song demo. These people listen to a lot of the same music as me, they get it in the same way that I do, and they fuck it up in the same way that I would, if only I could be bothered to figure out how to not play a guitar. I kid. This is a fine demo, and a kind of music that no fucker can be bothered to play in 2014. It’s already worth your time if you have affection for the days of pretty (not twiddly) melodies mixed with towering blasts and the occasional sample of some old American guy saying something that you can’t quite make out, and people hollering and falling over each other. Plug me in.