Recent Record Reviews

Pygmy Lush - Old Friends

Basic Text — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:53:46 +0100

For the most part, Old Friends is a dark, dank, and brooding monster that seems to exist somewhere between the lines of folk and post rock. Think At Dawn era My Morning Jacket only with a more obtuse twist that stretches the bleak side of your imagination further than you thought humanly possible.

Around the ¾ mark of the lp, a boost of vitality is given in form of the tracks A Weird Glow and Admit. Despite being short & sweet, they manage to awake the lp from its atmospheric nature and add a welcome dash of pace into the mix, evoking the sounds of artists such as Ghosts of the Great Highway era Sun Kil Moon and early Band of Horses.

Having taken a moment to listen to their back catalogue, it’s pretty safe to say that Old Friends is where Pygmy Lush have truly nailed their own sound and made it their own. The album was tracked live with Kurt Ballou at his own GodCity Studio, a decision that greatly benefits the lp as it captures the band’s intense live sound breathing life into the soulful sorrow it so painfully delivers.

Old Friends by lovitt

Pygmy Lush - Full Set - Tulsa, Ok. 03/23/11 from James P on Vimeo.

Deep Sleep - Turn Me Off

Basic Text — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:25:57 +0100

In this case it’s the latter with the aforementioned self awareness being one of the album’s saving graces. No track is longer than a minute and half which ensures that everything you need to hear is crammed tightly in there. As a whole the record comes across as a more aggressive Descendents, Pretty much all similar elements are present here, the 2 string riffs, the winding bass lines and vocals that deliver each syllable in a fast yet clear and precise manner.

I’d go as far as to say It’s so good that I was blissfully unaware that I’d been listening to the album on repeat without knowing it! Given the album’s length it would be rude to go on anymore, just give it a listen.

By Surprise - Mountain Smashers

Basic Text — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:17:22 +0100

The opening number Books By Thoreau throws a bit of a curveball and results in a possible non starter, a track that would have been fine situated elsewhere in the lp as it has no indication of where the lp is heading. Instead we’re left with a mainly instrumental number that at its peak resembles an indie rock incarnation of Akron Family, a rather 70’s prog rock riff complete with leftfield chanting.

Musically the remainder of the album is a mixed bag, for the most part By Surprise share similarities to 90’s slacker indie rock bands such as Pavement, Silkworm and Sebadoh but with a modern punk rock twist. A fine example would be the Malkmus-esque Daggermouth are Playing at my House, a sloppily delivered chain of lazy observations upon a lethargic riff that under any other circumstance shouldn’t be classed as a melody but somehow is. That is, until a sudden burst of guitars and drums awaken the song from its doped up slumber and into a driving number filled with hooks and gang shouts, a definite favourite of the lp. Other times the album feels more in line with their other indie rock counter parts such as Everyone Everywhere and Piebald sharing both musical and more so lyrically with their juxtaposed lyrics and vocal delivery.

Mountain Smashers is a damn fine record that can be appreciated by many due to its variety and daring attempt to try and bridge the gap between punk rock and indie rock, something the band can be proud of.

Not sure? Have a listen below:-

Mountain Smashers by By Surprise

Restorations - Strange Behavior

Basic Text — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:27:38 +0100

Tracked at the same time as aforementioned 7”, Strange Behavior falls more in line with the B-side of said record favouring a more solemn approach to the more upbeat feel of the A Side. Mixing genres in this day and age is a dangerous game as most bands tumble into the pitfall that is either of following a current trend and becoming monotonous or creating a hybrid not fit for the ears.

Restorations though have managed to retain an indie rock sound with a twinge of soulful blues, mainly displayed by singer Jon Loundon’s gravelly husk of a voice that honestly conveys emotion without carrying any pretence. These songs also further Loundon as a storyteller; each song carries an ongoing theme that conjures images in the mind of the listener with each descriptive word. It’s immediately noticeable that a lot of effort goes into the song writing process and this reflects in the music itself.

Those expecting any form of dramatic change from previous material won’t be overwhelmed but those expecting more of the brilliance the band have already displayed will be more than satisfied, here’s to the full length later in the month!

Strange Behavior by Restorations