fakejazz.com

When my original, defective copy of this album went all kinds of popping spasm hell on me during "Stairs," I didn't realize that the CD wasn't supposed to be making the microwave death rattle noises that were coming out of the speakers until they continued into the next track. That should give you little glimpse into this album's aesthetic. Truly, this double 3 inch CD release doesn't veer into abstract noise realms until the single 21 minute track on the second disc. The leading (and shorter) disc finds Shearing Pinx in the sort of clanging, skittering noise-rock that makes you unsure if the repetitive riffs are the band playing or the CD skipping. While I don't think the band is wishing to explore the same "purposefully defective" idea that Fly Pan Am did on Ceux Qui Inventent N'ont Jamais Vécu, Poison Hands has the teetering-on-implosion feel that FPA's sophomore album did. Shearing Pinx are at their best when they lock into a heavy, driving riff and let singer Nic Hughes salivate on the mic, which luckily happens on pretty much all the songs. The style is homogenous but for an 18 minute disc of such intensity, that's a blessing. Highlights include the opening "New Gospel," the short "Crime Waves," and the aforementioned "Stairs." Disc two, "Whitemud," begins no different from the first disc with a straight-up rock song that is the album highlight but quickly devolves into a harsh live skronk that sounds like the band is literally trying to rip their instruments apart. This is the highest of compliments. Drums and vocals leave for the bulk of the track while effects-aided guitars create a sea of lacerating drone 'n' noise. Pulled back to 'normality' the end of the track finds us with stuttering rhythm and yelling. While truthfully a little better at the spastic destruction of the first disc, "Whitemud" allows the band to showcase a different side and side which with a bit more practice and integration into their other sound could create some really really fascinating albums. Being a Not Not Fun release, the album is lovingly and beautifully hand-packaged complete with spraypainted foam pegs for the CDs. A dissonant and sick debut from a promising band.

Shearing Pinx at Amazon & Insound