For those not familiar with MoE, they are a noise rock trio hailing from Oslo, Norway. Inspired by noise and no-wave music, bassist/vocalist Guro Skumsnes Moe formed MoE in 2008. Over the years that followed, the band released three albums, acquiring a strong a presence in the Scandinavian improvisation and avant-garde scene. ‘Examination of the Eye of a Horse’ is their fourth release and will doubtless be the record that sees them get the recognition they deserve outside of their native homeland.
The strangulated guitars paint schizophrenic soundscapes, with rhythmic sensibilities that easily draw comparisons to The Melvins. Manic, disjointed and effervescent, the instrumentals persistently remain unpredictable and this is the biggest part of MoE’s charm – consistently being kept on your toes is what makes their music so much more interesting. Adding to the record’s mind-bending atmospheres are layers of guitars and noise from Skaset, guest appearances from Japanese noise legend Pain Jerk and Norwegian percussionist Ane Marthe Sørlien Holen, and MoE’s Octobass contributing an absolutely cavernous low end across several tracks. The key focal point, however, is undoubtedly Guro’s vocals – a strange hybrid of Bjork, Julie Christmas and Cerys Matthews – her voice fluctuates from distorted insanity to eerie lullaby, sounding its most impressive on track ‘Wild Horses’, repeatedly hitting a series of rapid, breathy high notes in quick succession.
Truthfully, there is nothing quite like MoE or the sound they create, and it’s a huge injustice that they’re not already a bigger name within the scene. Musically, the album showcases MoE’s technical prowess, knack for innovation, and unstoppable raw energy. For fans of the likes of Made Out of Babies, The Melvins and Whores this will likely to be an addictive listen.
(9/10 Angela Davey)
https://moepages.bandcamp.com/album/examination-of-the-eye-of-a-horse
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