MOUTHUS - SAW A HALO (LOAD 103)

VERY RECENTLY (AND I CANNOT REMEMBER WHERE) I READ THAT MOUTHUS WERE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREAT UNHERALDED AMERICAN MUSICAL PROJECTS OF THE LAST 30 YEARS. WHICH PRICKED MY EARS UP NO END BECAUSE I HAD NEVER BOTHERED TO LISTEN TO THEM. IF ONLY FOR MY OWN SELF I PRESENT A POTTED BIO: THEY'RE A DUO FROM BROOKLYN. HOW FUCKING INSPIRING.

OF COURSE IT AIN'T WHERE YOU'RE FROM, IT'S WHERE YOU'RE AT. MOUTHUS APPEAR TO BE IN A SIMILAR FRAME OF MIND TO SIGHTINGS IN SOME RESPECTS: FEEDBACK REVERIES COMPACTING ANTI-SONGS INTO PARTIAL IMPLOSION. THE OPENER IS A MOURNFUL, NEAR MEDIEVAL FOLK JAM, BUT BEYOND THAT LIES THE SMOKING RUINS OF SONGS ONLY PARTIALLY BUILT.

OCCASIONALLY THEY HIT THESE GREAT MOODS THAT RISE LIKE GHOSTS OUT OF THE SMOULDERING COLUMNS: 'CENTURY OF DIVIDES' RIDES A LULLING RHYTHM AND HUSHED VOCAL OVER THE SKRONKING FEEDBACK TO CREATE A TOTALLY ORIGINAL VIBE. IF THEY HAD MORE PIECES LIKE THAT I'D BE RUNNING OUT AND GETTING MOUTHUS TATTOOED ON MY FACE. BUT THEY DON'T.

TO BE FAIR THE BACK HALF OF THIS RECORD IS QUITE SOMETHING AND I DO LIKE WHAT THESE LADS ARE DOING. THE RHYTHM ON 'WAVE THROUGH' IS ALMOST WORTHY OF PLAYING IT ON A BOILER ROOM SET, IF ONLY TO SEE PEOPLE HALF TRY TO DANCE TO FEEDBACK.