Gawjuss - Prototypical (Clue Records) 
Release Dates: Out Now
Leeds based supergroup Gawjuss have dropped their debut album (careless) and it is a superb listen. 'Prototypical' opens with a wonky piano and guitar melody that lurches along on 'Dog Tired' with all the energy of someone turning off the TV at three in the morning and dragging their body up to bed. There's an injection of energy on 'Cry Harder', though, which bursts in to life with a wreckless clash of guitar and drums before 'Wet Paint' maintains the bone rattling pace with a raw and free wheeling track that takes no prisoners but just about hangs on to the melody. 'YELLA' has a more subdued vibe, mixing shoegaze guitars and indie drums with directly delivered vocals before 'Grown Men' swaggers in to the bar, preaching the end of the world and ranting at anyone who will listen.
The brilliantly title 'Preset = (Polite)' has an Arctic Monkeys vibe to the atmospheric guitars and distant vocals but 'I Feel Ill' is pure 90s indie-grunge, reminding me of bands like 60Ft Dolls in their prime. The chaotic energy of the album is intoxicating and continues on 'Heavens Above' as the bass line growls and Wilko screams about being in the true crime section of the library like a man walking the line between genius and searing madness. Title track 'Prototypical' has a slick, Muse-esque bass line to it but the song itself sounds like a indie-rock band doing Kraftwerk or Franz Ferdinand but to a very tight deadline.
The solemn acoustic strum of 'Dwell' is a rare moment of calm on the album before 'Not Like This' takes us on a moody, meandering journey through the subconscious. Closing the album out is 'Home Tie' which starts off with a 'Wonderwall'-esque strum before exploding in to something more akin to My Bloody Valentine with an anguished scream in the background cutting through the wall of guitars. The anger, pain and complexity of emotion contained within this album is intense but then all the really important art is challenging and once you've given this one listen you'll find yourself being drawn back again and again. And again.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/gawjussband
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