The blurb that comes with Brainswarm’s debut E.P. states that it sounds “Like the lumbering ghost of damaged 80’s rock”. I personally think it sounds in a lot of places like 70’s rock, and that’s no bad thing, as this debut E.P. is quite good in some places.
Brainswarm consists of former members of bands such as Dishwater Psychics and Bullet Gastino, along with Tim Donovan on vocals.
Track 1 ‘Weird Hero’ starts off all churning guitar riffs with swirling synths, and on first hearing, musically, wouldn’t be too far removed from the type of work that Mr. Bowie was doing circa ‘The Man Who Sold The World’, with slightly skewed lyrics “It’s very beautiful, let’s crack it open, take a peek at what’s inside”. This is a track that bears repeated listening, and is quite a good opener.
The next track, ‘American Idyl’ (sic) ups the ante about 1000%, being a post punk slow jolter with clever lyrics that are designed to inflame, their target being the heart of the corporate American dream, which they gleefully tear open showing its empty insides. “Your life is a fallacy, wrapped in plastic packaging ….. convenient and chic” The lyrics strike hard, and hit all the right spots, so that you can feel the singer’s loathing:
“This American idyll, disengaged from reality, This American Idyll, an Icon of Hypocrisy”.
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This is probably the strongest track on the E.P., which is a pity, because track 3, ‘Perspectives’ is the weakest track on this offering, being some sub R.E.M. jangly type pop that is best forgotten.
Track 4, ‘Soulship’ luckily save this E.P. from going off course, returning to a 70’s based rock format that wouldn’t make this song seem out of place on a compilation progressive “space” rock album!
“You gotta set controls for the sun, strap yourself in for some fun, take your soulship higher, higher baby” This is upbeat and lifts the tone of the E.P.
Finally ‘Brain Swarm’ closes the E.P. This track is oppressive and claustrophobic, with spiky guitar lines and dark synth noises that were a little bit Pere Ubu, a little bit Killing Joke, with the eternal theme about angst and alienation.
“I just want to be myself, Not another someone else”.
All in all, I liked this CD, however it would have been even better (and would have scored higher) if they had left out ‘Perspectives’. It will be interesting to see what they produce next.
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