DuuD

As soon as the news broke that BCNR was releasing a new album, it immediately became my most anticipated release of the year. Not only because I have a deeply emotional connection to their music – it was their previous record, Ants From Up There, that permanently opened me up to genres beyond hip-hop – but also because they’re simply one of the most original and creative bands on the scene today, right up there with the likes of Squid and black midi.

I was a bit surprised by ... read more

The opening track, One Hundred Years, is the strongest one. This is probably their darkest album I’ve heard so far (kind of scary to think that others might be even darker - though, after some digging, it seems we might have already hit rock bottom). I don’t know, but the more I listen, the more I have to admit that The Cure has made building tension and atmosphere their greatest strength, elevating it to an art form in itself.

It’s almost absurd when you start analyzing the ... read more

This could have been a great album - if only someone had whispered in Abel’s ear that a little track selection wouldn’t hurt…

This year’s album doesn’t even come close to Young Team. It’s not groundbreaking, especially considering it came out after bands like My Bloody Valentine or Sonic Youth had already made their mark, but it’s still a solid listen. It builds tension really well, using quiet sections to suddenly hit with the full force of drums and distorted guitars—very shoegaze in vibe. There are plenty of weird, original mix tricks here, with snippets of phone conversations, ... read more