|
|
 |
Beaten By Them
Signs Of Life
Logicpole/ Amphead
Most contemporary post-rock music falls broadly into one of two camps: either apocalyptic sounding, slow burning and ominous in the manner of Godspeed! You Black Emperor or A Silver Mount Zion, or pretty, melodic and melancholy like Explosions In The Sky or Sigur Ros. So when Town Too Small, the opening track of ‘Signs Of Life’, kicks into life with its scratchy, Eastern-inspired cello playing and odd guitar signatures, it seems that multi-nationals Beaten By Them belong firmly in the former category.
Towards the end of this first piece, however, there’s a sudden explosion of funky bass playing and punk-inspired electric guitar, and all expectations fly out of the window. Because, far from being merely a simulacra of either of the two schools, or even a combination of them, ‘Signs Of Life’ is an altogether more intriguing prospect, one which runs a gamut of styles and genres while still remaining defiantly post-rock.
The following, titular track takes another turn entirely, building on a simple, almost alt-country acoustic guitar theme, utilising vintage synth sounds and a keen sense of melody. It’s surprising, and that’s what works about this release – you’re never quite sure what’s around the corner, but you like it ALL. Take Verge for example – four and a half minutes of shimmering electric guitar build up before it picks up a serious rhythm and… a rap starts? Yet somehow, it all hangs together, and it’s easily the catchiest track on display here.
The rest of the album has a decidedly more upbeat vibe than the opening track, with the melancholy but hopeful Yangtze and the pretty yet powerful harmonics of Pioneer 10 closing out one of the best post-rock releases in recent memory. Far more than a distillation of their influences, Beaten By Them have arrived as serious new artists on the post-rock scene.
Patrick Lang
|
|
The latest issue
available now!
|
