Listen To This: Slint ~ Untitled EP

Posted on by jamesreviewsblog

Slint-Slint_EP

Shot through the heart and you’re to blame

Recorded before their monumental second album Spiderland, this 2 song EP captures Slint exhibiting the sound that would become so captivating in the future. Produced by Steve Albini, the band had already broken up by the time this EP was released in 1994. Consisting of one new song, Glenn, and a reworking of a song off of their debut album Tweez (Rhoda), this EP really highlights the instrumental skills of the band.

I’ve come to think of the two songs on this EP as symbolising the sides of a coin. The first track is a patient, melodic track with spiralling arpeggios that become more insistent as the song progresses. Britt Walford’s drum beat coaxes the song along with another guitar joining in as the song grows, adding a more rhythmic and aggressive facet to the song. The drums are really great at controlling the pace and driving this song forward and have plenty of quick fills and intricacies to them that encourages multiple listens. This song could easily slot into the Spiderland track listing and not feel out of place. The mood it conveys is cold and dark and it would sit quite comfortably between the last few songs on that album.

The other side of the coin is the more aggressive track Rhoda. Containing the loud, angular guitar playing found on their debut album, this song would have a harder time being included on Spiderland. This song is almost immediately in your face and sounds similar to bands such as Unwound. Compared to the original version this is the superior rendition, with the song having been drawn out to over 6 minutes from the original 2 and half minute length. This allows the song to develop at a more natural pace and each section sounds fully formed. The general recording is much more dynamic than the original, which has a muffled quality to it.

This EP is an interesting document of a band developing their own unique sound at a rapid rate. The difference in quality between the EP version of Rhoda and the one found on Tweez is dramatic. The fact that the members of this band were still teenagers when they recorded this makes you wonder what sort of music they would be making if they didn’t break up. Overall this EP is a very enjoyable listen that doesn’t outstay its welcome in the slightest.

Buy: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/slint/id18280238

Listen to if:  You like instrumentals, post-hardcore, crescendos, post rock

Reminds me of: Unwound

Favourite Track: Glenn

Review Schedule

Posted on by jamesreviewsblog

Over the next few weeks I am going to try and review a whole bunch of albums. Some of these will be new albums as they get released. As usual however I plan to be reviewing that I think may be interesting or potentially something I will fall in love with. Below are the albums that I am going to try and get through.

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Amongst this collection of albums, there are quite a few famous names. Artists like Björk, Bob Dylan, Joy Division and Neil Young are names known in most households. Found between these albums are lesser known albums, mostly famous in music nerd circles such as Big Star, Camel, Circulatory Control and Codeine.

My review structure for these albums may vary depending on how I feel about what I have listened to. Some reviews may be long form essays and others may be quick summaries.

 

 

 

 

Listen To This: Midori Takada ~ Through the Looking Glass

Posted on by jamesreviewsblog

midori-takada

I have no idea what sort of animal that is

 

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWGjYg2LmZQ

Midori Takada is a Japanese composer who released her album Through the Looking Glass in 1983. Pulling heavily from minimalist influences it has some great pieces that feature heavy use of repetition as the base of the songs.

Second track Crossing features a marimba/xylophone pattern that reminds me of Steve Reich’s Music For 18 Musicians. Trompe-l’oeil utilises woodwinds and subtle percussion to create a rather eery atmosphere. The lengthy last track, Catastrope Σ, takes layered percussive elements and mixes them with the synths to create a unique sonic environment. As the song progresses it eventually builds into a pummelling tribal drum sequence that becomes a cacophonous outro for the album.

Buy: Available on Discogs

Listen to if:  You like repetition, interesting percussion, minimalism

Reminds me of: Steve Reich

Standout Tracks: Mr. Henri Rousseau’s Dream, Crossing, Catastrope Σ

Talking Heads ~ ’77

Posted on by jamesreviewsblog

 

talking-heads-77

Insert witty idiom here

 

Talking Heads garners incredible critical acclaim across the board as one the best bands of the 70s and 80s. With the group’s eccentric singer David Byrne, tight rhythm section of  couple Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth and dynamic guitar parts of Jerry Harrison, Talking Heads were able to create a unique sound that was eventually dubbed “new wave“.

Despite their reputation, Talking Heads is a band that has never fully “clicked” with me. I do like the occasional single from them, but I can’t say that I am a fan of any of their albums or deeper cuts. I’m hoping reviewing their debut album and their subsequent releases will change my opinion of the band and dig up some hidden treasures in their discography.

Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town

An upbeat opener for the album, that highlights each member of the band’s strengths. An elastic bass and guitar part carries the song, accentuated by Byrne’s sporadic, scratchy guitar. Steel drums come into the song after the chorus giving it a rather calypso feel. Love Comes To Town serves as a good opener to the album and I am keen to hear more. ★★★½

New Feeling

Opening with a riff that reminds me of The Sonics‘ song “How Love Will Travel“, New Feeling quickly breaks into a more frantic groove. I really like the combination of the main riff with the bent guitar notes that soar above. The changes in pace found in the chorus of the song is all an interesting move. The bass playing is something that really stuck with me after repeated listens, very groovy and melodic, underpinning the song masterfully. ★★★★

Tentative Decisions

Tentative Decisions starts initially sounding like a Wire song off of Chairs Missing and then takes a left turn and ends up sounding like a singing, marching band. Very weird and unexpected. I really like groove in this song, but I’m not sure whether the chorus vocals really work. A piano and additional percussion is brought in during the outro of the song which gives it a bit more impetus but it ends too quickly. ★★½

Happy Day

Some lovely piano arpeggios greet me as the intro to Happy Day, one of the more melodic cuts on ’77. With its lush instrumentation, we find Talking Heads utilising xylophone and keyboards in addition to their usual style to really expand their sound. David Byrne delivers one of the album’s best vocal performances as well, with a mixture of high notes interjecting his usual delivery. ★★★★

Who Is It?

The scratchy guitar sound that is usually identified with Talking Heads and other CBGB bands kicks off Who Is It?. With the shortest runtime on the album, this is a rather forgettable song that doesn’t really do much to distinguish itself apart from other tracks. ★★

No Compassion

When I heard the opening riff to No Compassion the first thing that popped into my mind was the intricate guitar work of fellow New York band Television. This is exactly the sort of song that I hoped I would discover by doing this review as I’ve never heard this song before and it immediately clicked with me. As per most of the tracks on this album the bass playing is fantastic, locking into a super tight groove with the drums to carry the song forwards. After the short length of previous song Who Is It? I was worried when the song had a false ending after the first chorus but thankfully it has a much longer duration. The guitar solo before the final verse is enjoyable and again reminds me of Television, specifically the ending of their song Friction. ★★★★½

The Book I Read

Sounding exactly what I imagine a deep cut of Talking Heads would sound like, The Book I Read offers up no real surprises. The piano/clavichord sounding instrument that takes over the song in the bridge is unexpected but quickly grew monotonous, although the guitar arpeggios were a very nice touch. ★★½

Don’t Worry About the Government

A rather introspective song that finds Byrne reflecting on who actually works for the government. It almost has a broadway musical feel to it, with its storyteller lyrics and dramatic chorus. I found this song rather annoying on my first listen but it grew on me the more I listened to it. The vocal melodies are very strong and are the star of the show, with the bass playing a rather restrained part (not to the detriment of the song) in comparison to the rest of the songs on the album. ★★★½

First Week/Last Week…Carefree

This song has a great groove to it, with numerous percussion instruments being utilised to maximum effect. The use of a marimba really gives a unique feel to the song that seperates it from the rest of the songs on the album. Saxophone is introduced, which adds some needed melody to the tune as well. It’s a solid, upbeat album track that helps carry the album.  ★★★½

Psycho Killer

With its iconic bass line, tense vocals and frantic guitar, Psycho Killer is the easily the most popular track on this album. It really is a great track that stands out on this album in comparison to the rest of the tracks. It has the catchiest chorus and gets stuck in your head almost immediately. The outro guitar is creates some great dissonance that really adds a lot to the track. David Byrne’s lyrics paint the image of a pyscho killer in the mould of Patrick Bateman perfectly, with the line “I hate people when they’re not polite” standing out. ★★★★★

Pulled Up

Honestly I’m not sure why the band decided to have Pulled Up be the album closer instead of Psycho Killer, which would have concluded the album with a very definitive statement. Pulled Up is an alright song but it sounds a tad lacklustre after its predecessor. It has a catchy chorus and quite a few nimble guitar lines scattered throughout the verses. I feel it would have been more of a standout track if it was in the middle of the track listing instead. ★★★

Final Thoughts

This is a solid debut from Talking Heads that met my expectations and also gave me a wider understanding of the band. Having listened to this album a few times in its entirety over the last few days I can see that the strong sense of groove and rhythm was always a strong element within the band. Their later albums would see the band continue to work on building these fantastic grooves that they built their songs upon.

I don’t believe that this album is Psycho Killer plus 10 other songs. Happy Day, No Compassion and Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town are all great songs in their own right and highlight different strengths of the band and its talented members. While not the best debut album to come out of the CBGB’s scene it’s an album that holds up well and rewards multiple listens.

Rating:  ★★★½ (Good, sometimes great)

Buy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/talking-heads-77/id120135545

Listen to if: You’re a fan of new wave, scratchy guitars, passionate vocals, great bass grooves

Reminds me of: Television, The Police

Favourite Tracks: Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town, Happy Day, No Compassion and Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town, Psycho  Killer

Least Favourite Track: Tentative Decisions, Who Is It?, The Book I Read

 

 

 

Listen to This: Samurai ~ Samurai

Posted on by jamesreviewsblog

 

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Thankfully the music is better than the cover

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hrDB30za5I

There are two bands called Samurai. Both were active in the early 70s and both made prog rock. The Samurai we are dealing with here is a band from England who later became the band Web (the other Samurai are from Japan).

Released in 1971, the band’s self titled debut is a hard hitting, riff heavy outing that features great musicianship from all the members. Sounding very similar to King Crimson’s work from this period, if you like prog rock you’re going to like this album.

Give a Little Love features a driving riff and some great woodwind flourishes that help add colour to the song. There is a fantastic organ solo that transitions into wah guitar effortlessly. The vocals are very similar to Greg Lake and suit the music perfectly.

Buy: Available on discogs

Listen to if: Prog rock, organ solos, great musicianship

Reminds me of: King Crimson, ELP

Standout Tracks: Give a Little Love, Face in the Mirror

 

 

 

Listen To This: S U R F I N G ~ Deep Fantasy

Posted on by jamesreviewsblog

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A E S T H E T I C

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvU3JkngqvE

S U R F I N G  is a Melbourne duo who have gained quite a bit of attention since releasing their album Deep Fantasy in 2012. What separates S U R F I N G  from a lot of the other artists who are lumped under the Vaporwave moniker is there use of guitar. The sound of  S U R F I NG  is more akin to lo fi pop, with some vocal moments sounding similar to early Ariel Pink (especially his song Baby on Mature Themes) to me. There is some great lead guitar sprinkled throughout the track listing here.

Standout track Moonlight is a hazy dream, with its strong drum and bass groove and quiet, distorted vocals. There are some great moments found throughout this song whether it be bass pops, synth chords, samples or the thick, crunchy guitar.

Available to purchase on Bandcamp for $5 this is a great album to listen to with headphones on to hear the group’s dense, layered sound.

Buy: http://surfing.100percentelectronica.com/

Listen to if: You like lo-fi pop melodies, hazy synths and crunchy guitar

Reminds me of: Ariel Pink, Saint Pepsi

Standout Track: Moonlight

American Football ~ American Football (LP2)

Posted on by jamesreviewsblog

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Comfy

 

Band reunions can be tricky to pull off. Especially when band’s are held in such high regard as American Football. The seminal midwest emo bands have up to this point only had one album in their much loved discography. Returning 17 years after their debut album the band have released an album that is full of introspective lyrics and their trademark intricate guitars.

Where Are We Now?

The album opens with a slow fade in of guitar that doesn’t rush to be the centre of attention. Mike Kinsella’s vocals are higher in the mix than on their debut album and he delivers a solid vocal performance with subtle harmonies accentuating moments throughout the song. I really like the drums in the verses of this track as they propel the song forwards without taking centre stage from the vocals and guitar. This song serves as a pleasant opener, however I feel it may have gone on for a bit too long and could have had the last verse cut. ★★★

My Instincts Are the Enemy

Keeping the same vibe as the opening track,My Instincts Are the Enemy rests upon a repeating guitar riff and stop-start drums. This is a vocal heavy track and the song doesn’t really have much personality until the vocals drop away and the instrumental takes over. Unfortunately this instrumental break doesn’t really build to anything and is over far too early. I can’t help but wish the song stepped it up a notch for the final third. Although it does have a few drum fills and a xylophone added it doesn’t reach the heights that I would like. ★★

Home Is Where the Haunt Is

An acoustic guitar kicks off the third track which is a pleasant detour from the previous tracks. An electric guitar melody wires around the acoustic, creating some great interplay. While the lyrics are a bit melodramatic for my tastes, instrumentally this is one of the stronger tracks on the album and one I can see myself returning to. ★★★★

Born To Lose

Introducing an electric piano into the mix, Born To Lose starts strongly with a tight bass and drum groove. The song features some tight drumming by Steve Lamos, whose drumming really is an integral part of the band’s sound. His jazzy, subtle snare use really adds a lot of colour to the band’s arrangements. The song fades away softly and doesn’t overstay its welcome. I do wish that this song had a more involved guitar part as they don’t stand out particularly. ★★★

I’ve Been So Lost For So Long

The first single off of the album, I’ve Been So Lost For So Long, is the most in your face of all the songs on the album. With its uptempo drum beat and strong chorus melody it is an obvious choice to be the reintroduction of the band. Mike Kinsella provides one of his strongest vocal and lyrical performances on the album, which flourishes over the band’s instrumentation. I do wish that the guitars were higher in the mix in the chorus as they are dominated by the vocals unfortunately. ★★★

 Give Me The Gun

Melodramatic and corny lyrics are unfortunately the main takeaway from this track for me. There is also a guitar solo in that ends far too quickly and a strange muted groove that takes over the song for the latter half of the duration. The tubular bells and electric piano is a clever touch at the end but it doesn’t save this track. ★★

I Need a Drink (or Two or Three)

Seven tracks into this album and we finally get to hear Lamos’s trumpet, albeit briefly (like all instrument sections in this album unfortunately) opening this track. Earnest vocals are paired with some subtle vocal harmonies that really add a lot of depth to the track. The mixing of the drums in the second half of the track seems to compete with the vocals which is rather distracting. The last instrumental passage is one of the strongest on the album and ends with an almost country sounding chord. ★★★

Desire Gets In the Way

Desire Gets In the Way is a very upfront sounding track from the band and features some very upbeat, poppy vocals. I can’t say I am a fan of this track, with its big, booming chords and handclap percussion. My least favourite track on the album. ★

Everyone Is Dressed Up

With Stay Home and The Wurlitzer Song being some of my favourite tracks by the band, the closing song on LP2 had a lot to live up to. Thankfully I found this to be the strongest track on the album. With its use of trumpet and melodic guitar lines it really sounds like the American Football of old. The vocals aren’t as overpowering as some of the previous tracks and the trumpet enters the song at just the right moments. ★★★★

Final Thoughts

As I said at the start of this review, reunions are hard. American Football have made an album that has a lot of elements that made their debut so great are still present here. Unfortunately there are elements missing from the formula. The lack of strong riffs or instrumental passages really affected my enjoyment of this album. Not to say that this is a bad album it is just rather forgettable. I do feel however that some of these songs will sound much better in a live setting and hope the band are playing near me soon.

Rating:  ★★★ (Average)

Buy: https://americanfootball.bandcamp.com/album/american-football-lp2

Listen to if: You’re a fan of intricate guitars and sincere vocals

Reminds me of: Death Cab for Cutie

Favourite Tracks: Home Is Where the Haunt Is, Everyone Is Dressed Up

Least Favourite Track: My Instincts Are the Enemy, Give Me the Gun, Desire Gets In the Way

 

 

 

Air ~ Moon Safari

Posted on by jamesreviewsblog

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Tracksuit wearing synth wizards

 Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99myH1orbs4
Moon Safari is the debut album of French electronic band Air, released in 1998, and is regarded as a crowning achievement by the band. Composed of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel, Air have become one of the best known bands to come out of France in the 90s and 2000s. Creating soundscapes with retro synths and traditional instrumentation, Air were able to create some truly beautiful and cinematic songs with absolutely stellar production. 

La femme d’argent

The album opens with the relaxing ambient sounds of running water. Soft percussion soon enters the mix and is promptly joined by a fantastic bass line by Nicolas Godin which really carries the song throughout its 7 minute plus runtime. The mixture of electric keyboards and synth strings and effects create some lovely textures, harmonies and melodies as the song progresses. As the opening song on the band’s debut album it’s a great introduction to what Air is all about. The introduction of the rapidly arpeggiating synth in the last quarter of the song keeps the song fresh and interesting, especially when paired with the outro melody. ★★★★★

Sexy Boy

Released as the first single of the album Sexy Boy follows a more traditional pop structure than La femme d’argent. With its catchy chorus and driving synth bass this is an extremely likeable song. The elegant autotuned french vocals pair effortlessly with the swirling synthesizers and gentle keyboard chords. The chorus is immediately catchy and features some distorted guitar. The song really kicks up a gear whenever the chorus is played. The keyboard solo in the bridge is not overly flashy and introduces some pleasant melodies into the song.  ★★★★★

All I Need

All I Need serves as a respite after the high energy Sexy Boy before it. With its calm female vocals (sung by Beth Hirsch) and stripped back instrumentation this is one smooth song. Again featuring excellent bass playing, the subtle synth flourishes add colour when needed, keeping the song fresh. A lower pitched synth is brought in half way through the song that brings in some lower end and gives the song some momentum as it concludes. ★★★★

Kelly Watch the Stars

With its iconic table tennis film clip, Kelly Watch the Stars is Air’s most famous song and the biggest single off of the album. With a similar structure to Sexy Boy, Kelly Watch the Stars is carried by a strong, driving synth bass line. The autotuned vocals sing the mantra-like chorus throughout the song with different harmonies and inflections used. The bridge of the song is fantastic with numerous synths introduced as well as piano and filtered drums. The way Air manages to layer and introduce new instruments is truly one of the band’s greatest strengths and it is truly on show in this song.  ★★★★★

Talisman

Starting out with organ and bass, Talisman is an instrumental number that grows as it progresses. As melody is introduced with electric keyboard, new elements to the drums are introduced, which help pick up the pace of the song. The string arrangement of this song is very cinematic, reminding me of a retro movie from the 70s. ★★★

Remember

The cinematic vibe is continued into the next song with Remember boasting a similarly strong string arrangement. I feel that this is a stronger song than Talisman and a real hidden gem on the album. The combination of the vocals and spiralling instrumentation really creates an emotive and poignant soundscape. ★★★★

You Make it Easy

Another song featuring Beth Hirsch, You Make it Easy, is very similar to All I Need, with a stripped back slow arrangement. The measured piano chords and subtle guitar work as a suitable accompaniment to the vocals. The bridge is an interesting change of pace and works to separate this song from All I Need as they are really similar.  ★★★

Ce matin là

Another cinematic instrumental from Air, and in my opinion, the best one on the album. With its fantastic glimmering synths and shimmering guitars arpeggios this song creates a beautiful environment for its lead instrument, the trumpet. As the song progresses harmonica is introduced, transporting the song to a completely different mood and harkening back to the soundtracks in old western films. As the trumpet returns it is partnered with organ and vocal harmonies to see out the song in the most magnificent way. ★★★★★

New Star in the Sky

Continuing the old time Western vibe found in the bridge of the previous song, New Star in the Sky is a rather forlorn instrumental that slowly and subtly progresses over its 5 minute runtime.  With its mellotron flutes adding colour, autotuned vocals, piano and samples create a poignant atmosphere. While a pleasant song it does suffer from following the succinct Ce matin là, which manages to fit more ideas in its much shorter duration. ★★★

Le voyage de Penelope

The very retro synths found here are hazy and melodic and give off interstellar, spacey vibes. While not the strongest song on the album it serves as a solid closing track and features all the elements that make Air great; competing synth melodies, string arrangements and a solid groove. ★★★

Final Thoughts

Air have a real knack of hitting the right notes at just the right time in the song for peak effectiveness. Whether to introduce a new melodic or sonic idea or to add poignancy or emotion to their arrangement, the band are true masters of arranging. The patient and composed nature of the songs found on Moon Safari is a truly great set of songs. The vast array of instruments used throughout the track listing show a band in full creative swing and the results speak for themselves. It is easy to see the influence that the band had with the release of this album, with bands such as Daft Punk using similarly autotuned vocals on their album, Discovery. Overall Moon Safari is a fantastic album and is a very rewarding listen that will throw up new details each time it is played.

Rating:  ★★★★ (Great)

Buy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/moon-safari/id693063670

Listen to if: You want a relaxing listening experience, enjoy lush instrumentation and retro synthesizers

Reminds me of: Serge Gainsbourg, old movie soundtracks

Favourite Tracks: La femme d’argent, Sexy Boy, Kelly Watch the Stars, Ce matin là

Least Favourite Track: New Star in the Sky

 

 

 

 

This Heat ~ Deceit

Posted on by jamesreviewsblog

this heat deceit

Bleak album is bleak

This Heat are a band that get a lot of praise from music nerds and people in the know. Recorded in 1981, Deceit was the final album the band recorded and is seen as one of the cornerstones and high points of the post punk genre. As a fan of this sort of music I was intrigued as to what this album would sound like and whether it would resonate with me. Despite its reputation I have never heard this album or any work from This Heat before, so hopefully this will be an interesting listening experience.

The album kicks off with the track Sleep, which has some cool percussion and vocals that are reminiscent of The Magnetic Fields. The lyrics are about anti-consumerism and I especially like the line “a life cocooned in a routine of food”. The back and forth vocals work well and help accentuate key parts of the song. This is a solid opening to the album and I song I can see myself returning to.

Paper Hats starts much more abrasively than Sleep, with franticly strummed guitars opening the song. The marching style drums and screamed vocals juxtaposed against the almost chanted chorus give this song a truly eery vibe. The song switches up and becomes rather chaotic after the chorus and the scratchy guitars and drums are accompanied by what sounds like a piano being destroyed/thrown down the stairs. This chaos gives way to a menacing and subdued groove which I could see a band like Repeater era Fugazi playing. I really like the noises and drones that can be found in the background of this section of the song when its turned up loud. Triumph seems like an epilogue to Paper Hats and has a strange, funeral march vibe; if funeral marches featured kazoos and crazy percussion. The vocal delivery reminds me of Pink Floyd strangely, with the main vocalist being Syd Barrett and the backing vocal sounding similar to Roger Waters.

Featuring heavy use of the Latin language S.P.Q.R is a song that focuses on ancient Rome and what drove its citizens. Calling ancient Romans an “unconscious collective” and focussing on “all roads lead to Rome” makes me think of them as being depicted as ants, sprawling across Europe. Apart from interesting lyrical content this is one of the weaker songs on the album so far, with a rather bland guitar part.

Cenotaph features synth that makes it sound initially like a new wave song a la early Talk Talk. However the mood of the track changes with the introduction of sharp, sporadic guitar and This Heat’s jarring vocal style. The chorus is based off the line “history repeats itself” and this song seems to work as a warning about war. This is shown in the first few lines of the song about World War 1 and how it was “the war to end all wars”. The fast hi-hats are an interesting element of the song as the rest of the instrumental is rather slow when compared to this part, which ends up carrying the song.

Shrink Wrap is a heavily layered track that sounds like a whole bunch of tape loops are being played at the same time. Its not a particularly engaging track and feels like walking through a protesting crowd with lots of yelling and voices coming from all different angles. The drums are the base of the song and keep a repeating rhythm throughout the whole song, which is thankfully under 2 minutes. Radio Prague seems to be another song based on tape loops and samples. Its reminiscent of some of the vocal loops found on Swan’s Soundtracks for the Blind released 15 years later. I prefer this track to Shrink Wrap and it serves as a segue into the next track, Makeshift Swahili.

With its pointed guitars emerging from a deep drone, Makeshift Swahili is one of the more jarring listening experiences on the album. With its guttural, shouted vocals the rage transmitted through this song is palpable. About half way through the track seems to switch to a live performance of the song which is a rather jarring choice of composition. Musically this is one of the strongest tracks on the album, however I am not a fan of its switch up to a live performance half way through.

Independence has a rather exotic instrumental, featuring a high pitched wood winds, plucked guitar and a pentatonic feel throughout. The descending bass motif that is repeated through the song is probably the main thing I grabbed from the song. Interestingly the lyrics to this track are lifted from the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence. While I’m sure choosing to have the lyrics to be taken from that document seemed clever and artsy it isn’t a particularly pleasant listening experience hearing it sung over this instrumental.

The bass heavy New Kind of Water is one of the strongest tracks on the album and focuses on a nuclear state and the end of the world. Its dark and foreboding drum beat works perfectly to convey the dark and depressing subjects covered in the lyrics. The repeated jangling guitar riff helps to propel the song along and floats above the harsh bass and drums. The song seems to be building towards a climax towards the end however is cut short and immediately transitions to the final track, Hi Baku Shyo. As an album closer this field recording maintains the creepy, cold and dark vibe that the rest of the album has in spades and is an appropriate album closer for such an album.

 Deceit has been an interesting listening experience and I will definitely be checking out This Heat’s debut album, perhaps out of morbid curiosity. I can’t say that this is an album that I would want to listen to very often or in a social setting. While I can hear the influence that this album was far from perfect and is definitely not for everyone. I would advise listening to other post-punk acts before giving Deceit a listen, such as Public Image Ltd, Gang of Four and Wire as this album is a more difficult listening experience than what I’ve heard from all these bands.

Rating: 3.0/5

Buy: https://rermegacorp.bandcamp.com/album/this-heat-deceit

Listen to if: You appreciate varied song structures and harsh textures and vocals

Reminds me of: Throbbing Gristle, Swans, Fugazi

Favourite Tracks: Paper Hats, Cenotaph, New Kind of Water

Least Favourite Tracks: S.P.Q.R, Shrink Wrap, Independence

Sheer Mag ~ III EP

Posted on by jamesreviewsblog

SHEER MAG - III 7- - cover

Bring out your dead

I have never heard of Sheer Mag before but they have been getting some positive reviews for their new project, III EP. First of all I can say that I like the band logo and album art choice. I’m always a fan of grainy black and white album art.

Kicking off the EP is the track Can’t Stop Fighting, which features some delicious lead guitar. The vocals sit rather low in the mix but are still clear and sung with confidence. Its a catchy and upbeat power-pop tune seems to harken back to the 80s with its in your face guitar.

Worth the Tears is more restrained than the opener, yet still features a ripper guitar lead. The vocals are more prominent in the mix and the song benefits, with another confident performance from singer Christina Halladay. Night Isn’t Bright is similar to the opening track and sounds like  a Joan Jett or Heart song from the 80s if it was performed by The Strokes or Yuck.

Nobody’s Baby is the final song and is super catchy and is a great closer to the EP. The crunchy guitars and vocals are a perfect compliment to the grainy album art and band logo and it seems like an under appreciated relic from the not so distant past. The solo at the end of the song is fantastic and doesn’t overstay its welcome.

With just four songs to be found on this EP, Sheer Mag have delivered a bite sized collection of power-pop tunes, all killer no filler and it was definitely worth the $4 I paid on Bandcamp. Definitely go and check these guys out.

Rating: 3.4/5

Buy: https://sheermag.bandcamp.com/

Listen to if: You’re craving tasty guitar leads and catchy choruses

Reminds me of: Pat Benetar, Joan Jett, Yuck

Favourite Tracks: Worth the Tears, Nobody’s Baby

Least Favourite Tracks: n/a