Self-described as a “heavy pop monster”, Elk sound like the more joyous moments of Explosions In The Sky being swallowed behind Slipknot’s collective mask. They combine bits of math rock precision, progressive post-rock intensity, punk immediacy and pop tidiness, the musical narrative growing and flowing, alternately travelling across vast clear plains, or into darkened corners.
The powerful and progressive title track provides an early peak. Similarly dizzying is ‘Gilus Thunderhead Suicide Pact’, the scamper of approaching toms leading towards a much brighter, Eighties synth style, final twist. The shifting subtleties of ‘Bruce Lee’ provide for a very different experience, the delicate opening broken by mucky guitars and drunken howling. Then there’s the psychedelic synth of ‘Badcat’, or ‘Back At The Ranch’ with its spooky keyboard riff, trash metal vocal squalls and heavy guitars.
All of these songs represent different sides of the same dice. And the great thing about Elk is they’ve built a solid narrative album in just 30 minutes and 10 songs (well, one of them is a 30-second interlude, but it’s brilliant): no never-ending 10-minute diversions and no senseless sonic paranoia. We Should Start Our Gang is like a breathtaking castle built out of the simplest materials. Less is indeed more. Virginia Arroyo
DOWNLOAD: ‘WE SHOULD START OUT GANG’, ‘GILUS THUNDERHEAD SUICIDE PACT’, ‘BRUCE LEE’.
FOR FANS OF: ASYWYFA, FOALS, ADEBISI SHANK.
Posted on: 27th January 2010
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