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Balaclavas – Roman Holiday (Dull Knife, LP, 2010)
I imagine Dull Knife (one of the better labels going) is sold out of this one by now, and that’s a shame. Sure, there’s probably not an enormous audience for brooding, dense, dark post-punk, but there are plenty fans of great, sweeping artistic statements. I guess a starting point here might be Public Image Limited, but even that seems kind of a stretch — maybe a certain Wilderness (Baltimore band) vibe from “Night Worship”. Truthfully, this is something that exists pretty much in its own world right now, which in the current climes of micro-genre, is unusual and speaks to the band’s true sense of vision. Truly epic stuff.
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Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Rush To Relax (Goner, LP, 2010)
So the big story behind this one is that Eddy Current Suppression Ring (best band name in a while, by the way) recorded this slab in 6 hours. While I have a blind following for anything this band will do, let’s be honest: it kinda sounds like it. While “Anxiety” might be their finest moment put to tape, there are definitely some moments on here that are a bit undercooked or could have used another take or two. This is still a minor complaint, because the songwriting is still very good to great, with the band sounding something like beach bum Troggs and Stooges deadbeats. Not to mention, Brendan Suppression has one of the best vocal deliveries, a weird deadpan, nasal and totally Australian whine. While I’m sure that I’d revisit either their eponymous first record or 2008′s Primary Colours, Rush to Relax shouldn’t be ruled out by any stretch.
“Anxiety“
