Month: December 2013
Review: Cults – Static
Her high-toned vocals complement the sparkly ’50s-style guitar tunes they lay on, though on tracks like “Always Forever,” they remind me of an excited girl talking to a dog (“Hi, puppy!”). … read more
Review: Dale Cooper Quartet & the Dictaphones – Quatorze Pièces...
Quatorze Pièces de Menace starts with near perfect treatise explaining a term like “dark jazz” to the masses. This 20-plus minute opus tracks a slow-build progression from dark ambience to slow industrial clang, to Birth of the Cool–era Miles Davis cool jazz, to swells of post-rock guitars and swathes of noise. … read more
Review: Dave Hause – Devour
The Loved One’s current and Paint It Black’s former guitarist has also been putting out solo material since his stint performing on the PIB 2009 revival tour. It’s obvious that Hause knows how to create a large scope with his songs since each of them are emotional epics that tell Americana-type stories. … read more
Review: Cymbals – The Age of Fracture
Care was taken with each track on the Cymbals’ progressive new album. From start to finish, Jack Cleverly’s (singer/guitarist) thought process can be felt in this non-concept-like album. … read more
Review: COUM Transmissions – Home Aged and The 18 Month...
P-Orridge’s career has been an ever-unfolding experiment in the evolution and control of personal identity, and Home Aged and other COUM recordings are a fascinating look at the early, embryonic phase of P-Orridge’s artistic genesis. … read more
Review: Chuck Inglish – Easily EP
Good ol’ Chuck has always been a beast of collaboration, and this latest serving of tracks is a testament. “Swervin,” which features Sir Michael Rocks and Polyster the Saint, showcases classic Inglish/Rocks. … read more
Review: CAVE – Threace
CAVE hits all the stops on their interstellar cruise, from bruising motorik groove, to loose-limbed jazz, punchy horn sections, ’70s Latin psychedelia and full-bodied aural guitar assaults. … read more
Review: Celeste – Animale(s)
Listening to Animale(s) is not enjoyable. It’s a tough, thick, oppressive listen, sung in French, with few moments of respite from what sounds like 100 guitar tracks crunching over relentless drumming. … read more
Review: Brief Lives – Whistleblower 7”
I prefer the B-side, “No Voice.” This track captures the DC punk sound better by slightly upping the speed with a steady thumping beat and quick guitar creating the backing the vocals call for. … read more
Review: Cage the Elephant – Melophobia
Drawing on more classic rock influences, CTE attempt to distance themselves from the Pixies-esque sound on their previous album, Thank You, Happy Birthday, instead opting for a much more refined sound. … read more