Language – Plymouth EP (Goodeye Records)
Language - Plymouth EP
Release Date: Out Now
Brooklyn trio caught my attention
for three reasons. Firstly, they share their name with a London band from
around 8 years ago who were really good but thought they were great and gave
promoters like me a lot of grief (thankfully, not the same band). Secondly,
they named their EP after my hometown so, y’know, props. And finally, they are
really, really, really good. This final point was the clincher and was a
realisation I came to during the instrumental opening to the EP, ironically
called ‘Where To’ which is a very Plymouthian phrase for those that don’t know.
The huge slabs of guitar and bass are riddled with the superb drumming like
someone letting an automatic machine gun go at the swinging carcass of a cow
(or bag of tofu if you’re not in to meat. It’s just not as powerful an image).
Seguing seamlessly in to ‘Game
Piece’, Language pick up a more garage-punk vibe with the snotty, sometimes
screamed vocals giving this track a real edge that’s matched by the, frankly,
unexpected Dutch Uncles-esque guitar wig-out (unexpected but not unwelcome, I
should add). Title track ‘Plymouth’ takes a moment to see what train horn
noises can be made with a guitar before sliding in to a surreal, Twin
Peaks-esque soundscape from which emerges a laid back but slightly paranoid
song that, if it were a friend, you’d tell to just sit down and breathe for a
minute.
‘Into and Out Of’ pierces the air like a Morse-code message
from hell and, whatever the message is, it’s given forcefully and relentlessly
until you submit in a pool of your own brain fluids. Final track ‘Square Winds’
is as angular as they come and would drive a lesser man to drink but in between
all the angles is a prog-punk track trying to escape or, at the very least,
encourage a syncopated circle pit. Language are a challenging band but boy do
we need challenging bands at the moment and if I ever get the chance to see
them live I’ll be grabbing that challenge with both hands.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/languagemusicnyc/
Live Dates:
16th May – Baby’s All Right, New York w/Grooms +
Russian Baths