Music is Dead
Howling Owl Records
8/10
Words: Dave Beech
Now in its sixth year, Record Store Day is a worldwide event celebrated on the third Saturday of April. It brings together fans, artists and thousands of independent record stores across in an eclectic mix of previously unreleased tracks, reissues, in-store appearances, and more. The aim of which, quite simply to “celebrate the art of music”. In honour of the day and ahead of last year's release, Howling Owl Records releases 'Music is Dead' in a limited print of 100 copies only on vinyl.
Side A of the record features the first new material from The Naturals in over a year. 'Its Teeth' begins with a crunchy guitar which is quickly joined by a high pitched ad off kilter synth that's nothing short of abrasive. Singer Robin Stewart's moody vocals and a constant rolling bass work together to create a dark and claustrophobic atmosphere that's punctuated by occasional moments of optimism. The second half of the track feels somewhat more upbeat however it does manage to uphold distinctly dark undertones. Coming off sounding somewhat like a lo-fi White Lies, The Naturals are for those who like their fuzz.
The second track on side A is by Bristol based Spectres. Renowned for blending together ear shattering walls of noise with breezy vocals, 'Where Youth?' shows a different side to the band. A dreamy haze of guitars, drums and soundscapes isn't the band's usual fair and seems somewhat out of character, at least at first. It doesn't take long before the lazy vocals and shimmering background build to a tumultuous crescendo and the inevitable abrasiveness the band is known for bursts forth in a torrent of guitars and guitars and drums before slowly burning itself out in the songs climax. A fantastic and drawn out affair from one of the most refreshing bands to come out of Britain recently.
Turn the record over and side B asserts a whole different feel than that of it's counterpart. Oliver Wilde brings a premature summer with him in the form of 'Home'; a shimmering shoegazey affair that brings to mind the likes of Rollerskate Skinny. The familiar lo-fi production is constant present across the course of 'Music is Dead' but it benefits none more than this track, forming a heat haze across the whole song that makes summer seem almost tangible. Uplifting and optimistic Oliver Wilde has distilled 'festival season' perfectly with this track.
The final track on the record is by Velcro Hooks. 'Yesterday's Man' is perhaps the most radio-friendly track featured. Jangly guitars and an understated bass form the backdrop to a Strokes-esque vocal. A persistent yet ever-musical wall of noise builds throughout the second half of the track, in what is obviously a staple of the artists featured.
What Howling Owl records have done with Music is Dead is create a record with two completely separate identities each of it's sides. The first upholds a distinctly dark and brooding sentiment, featuring rumbling bass and melancholic vocals whilst side B purports a feeling of optimism and almost hope after listening to the first half. The record comes “in lovingly hand assembled packaging with bespoke artwork” and is only available in limited numbers. It features four very different bands who all share similar aesthetic tendancies. Definitely a record for fans of noise or lo-fi music in general should check out.
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