I am no stranger to the Hummus roster with the likes of Impure Wilhelmina, Coilguns, Red Kunz, NVRVD having releases in my collection, the label aims squarely at the experimental side of post rock or metal, whatever you want to call it, and this Swiss act has recorded live a series of tunes that are bound by instrumental ingenuity, taking on various moods and hues that weave from subtle post rock components to more mordant like sections. The opening doublet of the title track starts serenely with sophisticated bass tones being doomy as the gentle drum taps filter in almost unnoticed. The guitar melody is excellent, before disappearing like a wisp of memory as the second part of the track starts up in a smooth transition that reminded me heavily of The Shaking Sensations, and maybe even Spanish outfit Exxasens. I adore this sit back and absorb style, it permeates the sonic soul with such ease even when the song is gradually intensifying the guitar work is transfixing. A large shift in intensity appears on “This Life Could Be The Last”, much more chaotic, the tune takes side swipes before settling down into a charming riff. The guitar is sibylline, possessing a mysterious quality that wraps itself around the listener in swathes of ghostly melodies.
Instrumental albums are brave ventures, needing alluring tunes to carry them along for their full duration and this Swiss act greedily has an innovational treasure chest at their disposal they just seem to tap into, unleashing wave after wave of mesmerising riffs that are saturated with emotion and aural aestheticism. As the album morphs into “Green Is The New Red” there are comparisons to Long Distance Calling, that sweeping majesty of guitar work carries the listener along a blanket of sublime stylishness. There is an air of self satisfaction, smugness but not arrogance as the interestingly titled “Italian Football Legend” shows the percussive work of Mathieu is complex but fits with the guitar work of Claudio and Florent solidly but fluidly. I tend to become immersed listening to this music, it takes on a life of its own, taking you on journeys of irrefutable discovery where guitar hooks, combined with the bass melodies of David and vice versa to generate songs of palpable atmosphere and impeccable quality.
Parts of the heavier side to this band are like The Ocean and of course Cult Of Luna. Appropriately titled is “…Farewell” the dreamy guitar that it opens with has a distant echo entrenched within its structure, resonating and drifting off before being replaced by another melody, just as the drums come through. The song builds proportionally as each component adds depth only to rein the whole track back in and leave the calming drums with bass inflections and guitar hooks. The tune threatens to explode but doesn’t, existing on a knife edge of pristine tenderness the guitar work cements the drums and bass but retains that edge of elasticity just before it bursts into a far more striking tone that is harshly driven at you. Anybody into the likes of Cult Of Luna, Long Distance Calling, The Ocean, Pelican would be wise to check this Swiss act out and as the cliché states you will not be disappointed.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
https://www.facebook.com/killbodytuning
Leave a Reply