Third Crack At The Skull

Portland's Eat Skull exist in a netherworld of churning hydraulics and gurning hysterics, a puerile, deadbeat bunch that revel in a no-fi miasma of noise and inertia. This would put them on the second tier, neither here nor there, a band that rarely left their nihilistic domain, were shite on record but incendiary live (if you were lucky enough to find them in a dilapidated art gallery or underneath a bridge) - if it weren't for the fact that the four-piece hide well-written pop compositions underneath the clatter and debris. Siltbreeze may have latched onto the nascent nihilism of their sound on debut record Sick & Tired - an album that should be good, if not for all the aural sandpaper scouring away your eardrums -  but others saw the melodicism beneath. I had the luxury of seeing them support Ganglians around Xmas 2010 at XOYO in London, and they wiped the floor with those hippies - then bizarrely made it over to Australia for another spate of fun-filled shows. Nevertheless it felt like the potential had not been maxed out - not by a long shot. The boys became more open with their songwriting on Wild and Inside, and have perfected their move out under the waterfall of static and abrasion with III, startling in its fidelity, whilst also vindicating the beliefs of many that Eat Skull were...you know...actually good.

That's not to say that their third LP is straightforward,  accessible fare - not by a long shot (e.g. 'How Do I Know When To Say Goodnight' is some synth freakout that will infuriate and energise in equal measure; 'Twin Sikk Moons' offers the noise, without the tinnitus) - but its leaps and bounds the best thing they have produced sonically. I still long for tracks like 'Stick To The Formula' or 'New Confinement' to receive such luminous treatment in the studio, and maybe the next album will push Eat Skull into that upper echelon. But until then, III is incredible in parts, with a few tracks destined to signify what it actually means to be Eat Skull, without the shitgaze.

III is out through Woodsist - you can grab it here.

Eat Skull - Space Academy
Eat Skull - Dead Horses 
Eat Skull - Catch Em Before They Vanish

Gig - Ganglians/Eat Skull/Graffiti Island @ XOYO, 08.11.10

Tonight is yet ANOTHER Upset The Rhythm show - this time its Ganglians being supported by Eat Skull and Graffiti Island.

I make it down to XOYO - second time in a week! - in time to catch opening act Graffiti Island. They perform a lackadaisical set, mainly set by the frontman's over nonchalant approach to being out front, with weird mumbled interludes and such. And whilst the band's brand of tropical lo fi punk is a little samey, there are slices of radness throughout, evoking Buddy Holly via the Wipers, mainly driven by the bassist's businessmanlike approach to each song, which juxtaposes his tie dye shirt, tattoo sleeves andf Urge Overkill haircut. Ill be keeping an eye on these guys in the future months.

Next up - Eat Skull, the band Im really here to see, and they dont disappoint. In their 40 minute set, they display the shambolic nature of their sound, their songs, and their interplay - and it always works. They are Americana stripped of earnestness; they are doo wop stripped of innocence; they are college rock stripped of cardigans (and prone to beating the fuck out of Rivers Cuomo). Live the fuzz that permeates their fizzing releases is mostly eradicated, and the songs rise to the occasion, as does lead Rob Enbom, whose voice alters to fit the mood of the songs, whether it be the slimier early insane ones, or the later, more melody-laden spike bombs. All in all, a great if too short set - and to think they are struggling for shows over here!

Finally its Ganglians turn. I havent been the biggest fans of Ganglians, but the first half of their set seems about to change my mind. More intricate and daring than their normal trop punk shtick, this is highlighted by their 'new' track, a more meandering psych affair that shows a possible new dawn for the band. The second half though goes back into their normal oeuvre, and is all the more unconvincing for it. Dont get me wrong - they are a relatively in tune band, with some interesting things to show us - but with the vocals under constant reverb as always, the indie pop dreams that infuse this fuzzy mess just comes across as uninspiring. Second time Ive seen Ganglians - second time Ive left feeling like Ive been duped. Ah well - at least the supports were able to prop up the show, and as always, UtR give a polished show. Time for another beer.

Ganglians Eating Skulls At XOYO Tonight

Another week, another rad Upset The Rhythm show to get along to. Tonight sees Sacramento jangly upstarts Ganglians take centre stage at XOYO, supported by scuzzbuckets Eat Skull and minimalist garage punks Graffiti Island. Im mega pumped for this - Eat Skull's LPs out through Siltbreeze and their latest Woodsist Jerusalem Mall 7" have been dirty slices of enjoyment, whilst Graffiti Island have garnered some intriguing word of mouth thumbs ups (if thats possible?). Enjoy - we certainly will!

Ganglians - Voodoo

Eat Skull - Dont Leave Me On The Speaker

Graffiti Island - Head Hunters

Former Ghosts Channel Taurean Dreams...and other Ruppert Flights Of Fancy

We here at Sonic Masala are apologising. Not that you'd know any better, but I in particular am sorry that we have not been able to run a stream of Former Ghosts posts over the past few days in the lead up to the Xiu Xiu/Zola Jesus/Former Ghosts mega gig of death at XOYO tonight. Suffice it to say that there will be follow ups - a gig review, a brief album review of New Love, Former Ghosts' second LP, an interview with FG frontman Freddy Ruppert, and a look at Zola Jesus' upcoming releases. None of this has come to fruition though - the interview is still yet to be written up, the reviews tying in with said interview, yadda yadda. Its my fault - Im sorry. So Ill leave you with this track, off the new LP, and hope you garnered tickets for tonight's show. It will be amazing for sure.

Former Ghosts "Taurean Nature" Music Video from Amir Shoucri on Vimeo.

Puppetry of the Lecherous

Speaking of, The Twilight Sad have a new song out, with the accompanying music video (all 7+ minutes of it!) showing a puppet smoking, drinking, and leering at naked strippers. I cant say its a great song - it comes across as Twilight Sad by numbers - but its a great video, and the EP for The Wrong Car features remixes by Scottish pals Errors and Mogwai. And if you know ANYTHING about me yet, its that anything with Mogwai attached is an immediate must-buy. You can pre-order The Wrong Car (out through Fat Cat Records, with the instantly recognisable Twilight Sad artwork in check) here, and you can watch 'The Wrong Car' below!

Oh, they are touring in October, playing the new XOYO venue on October 7th.