Download-only is the latest release from Cleethorpes council-pop sensations ORPHAN BOY but as usual the sense of expectation is down to much more than the absence of the physical.
Both tracks are brand-new: already the three-strong gang are off again and running – beyond the material that formed the basis of their critically lauded debut long-player ‘Shop Local’, and into more territories unchartered.
The trio’s sonic stylo is unmistakable: mis-spelt A-side ‘Stillettos’ grows off the back of crunching guitars and super-fast closed hi-hat 1/16ths during a concoction that comes tense, thick and fast. Tempers rise where the melody is submerged, and soon it’s all-out ranting fury.
The crowd-chanting hook line precludes the less than straightforward clash of personality that flashes briefly; elsewhere pick-up sounds reverberate against the harmonic-heavy build-up all the way to the cacophonic final assault. It’s breathtaking and it left me drained.
The Cymbal intro to AA side ‘Ludwig’ is looser, with the tremolo arm getting a good throttling behind the dramatic rolling crashes. Suddenly, this disappears leaving a vapour trail of feedback and another screaming dose of vocal insanity. This time it’s backed to the hilt by an outbreak of super-edgy guitar fire as alarm bells seem to ring on the periphery.
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At full-pelt, this is delicious and dysfunctional. The vocal drop-out gives Rob Cross the chance to unleash a spontaneous burst of cryptic taunting. Sounding like libel’s attempt to slip past the censors, the thinly-veiled threat adds a further twist to this fucked-up tale.
Both tracks have a jagged edge, razor-sharp with a final crescendo to leave you standing, but more importantly both edges of this twin-blade carry enough weight to keep you thinking on your feet. That’s cutting edge in a nutshell.
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