EP | Molars: Eee Pea

 

Nothing really comes close to that slightly delusional sensation of stumbling upon a noise that causes you to put down whatever significant possession you may be holding in order to mutilate the internet in search for more and more and more of that noise. That noise, my friends, would be the brilliantly melancholic guitar pop of my most recent discovery, Molars.

As the destructive snare intro of opening track Love commences, soon joined by soothingly deep yet gloomy vocals, I immediately think Joy Division. That, of course, not being a dreadful thing. I also can’t help but hear a hint of fellow Leeds-based musicians Eagulls but with significantly less yelling and more swooning. Over layers and layers of engulfing distortion and echo, the lyrics “I won’t be ashamed of being in love” are repeated in what I feel is a heartfelt manner. A somewhat enigmatic, yet at the same time explosive, opener for the EP.

Each song no shorter than three and a half minutes, the melancholic Ian Curtis-esque vocals glide beautifully through the rest of Eee Pea, but always with a juxtaposing tone of underlying optimism – the somewhat chipper bass lines of track two, Almost, and track four, Talk, being perfect examples of this.

A brilliant mix of noisy, hazy, gloomy, soothing and slightly hypnotic in parts (the instrumental in track three, Normal, in particular). I couldn’t recommend this EP enough.

DOWNLOAD: http://mmmolars.bandcamp.com

TRACKLIST:

1. Love
2. Almost
3. Normal
4. Talk

FOR FANS OF: Joy Division, Eagulls, The Drums, The Smiths, Drenge

CATCH UP

 

I’ve been away for a little while because exams are looming, and won’t be posting things until the end of June when all this madness ceases. In the meantime, I thought I’d quickly write about a handful of things you’d be foolish to look over in the upcoming months and a brief reminiscence of musical happenings that have cropped up whilst I’ve been away.

Thinking about it, 2015 really has been a tremendous year for new releases. Since my blog break, bands such as The Cribs, Courtney Barnett, Drenge, Lost Dawn, Speedy Ortiz, Nai Harvest, Django Django, Palma Violets, Best Coast and Joanna Gruesome have released exciting new albums – all of which I’m thoroughly disheartened not to have written about sooner.

Looking forward, we can expect new material from Girlpool (June 1st), Wolf Alice (June 22nd), Ezra Furman (July 6th), Best Friends (July 10th), Spector and, the most exciting in my humble opinion, The Maccabees (July 31st).

I will be back in touch before you know it……..

#2 | Eagulls

 

Loud and proud at number two, I’ve elected post-punk Leeds’ boys, Eagulls, with their audaciously noisy debut album. Again, not the most original of debuts, but Eagulls recklessly blast raw angst through aggressive bass lines, brilliantly crude reverb-ed guitar, and an Ian Curtis-esque presence from frontman, George Mitchell, howling somewhat sincere yet painfully dark lyrics.

Screeches of reverb is what kicks off the record in the opening few seconds of early single, Nerve Endings, before being accompanied by an equally aggressive and climactic bass line. Shortly following, frontman George Mitchell yelps the lyrics “there’s no reason, no sense, no meaning behind my awkward smile / I’m nervous and / I’m nervous and I’m tired” bashing at that struggle of social anxieties, yet is, melodically, seductively contagious. The final chanted lyrics “can’t find my end”, are ones that are devotedly bellowed back at the band during gigs by fellow punk music enthusiasts.

Outbursts of this barbaric reverb and churning bass lines are evident throughout the entire album, especially in the likes of Hollow Visions, Tough Luck, and Footsteps. However, halfway mark track, Possessed, (definitely a favourite) introduces us to a more melodic side to Eagulls, with a contagious, destructive guitar riff that whirls the melody of the chorus in which Mitchell howls “I’m possessed”.

The tenth and final track of the record, Soulless Youth, precedes with a churning of guitar over a climactic batter of the snare drum which continuous through the entirety of the song, ending in an understandably exhausted diminuendo of the chanted lyrics “a soulless youth”, just to top of the brutality of their brilliant eponymous debut album.

I have actually had the pleasure of seeing this fantastically loud five-piece live, twice, from the centre of a couple rather rowdy mosh pits. Firstly, at the somewhat juxtaposed, charming Knee Deep festival, and second at Exeter’s fantastic grungy, underground venue, The Cavern (which I reviewed here), where they played their debut in it’s barbaric entirety, and they most certainly did not disappoint. Watch out for Eagulls. They’re certainly onto something.

RELEASE DATE: 3 March 2014

TRACKLIST:

1. Nerve Endings
2. Hollow Visions
3. Yellow Eyes
4. Tough Luck
5. Amber Viens
6. Possessed
7. Footsteps
8. Fester / Blister
9. Opaque
10. Soulless Youth

RECORD LABEL: Partisan Records

FOR FANS OF: Iceage, The Cure, Joy Division, The Wytches, Hookworms, Drenge