Not being a fan of labelling every type of music with some retarded genre for fear of it somehow being lost in the ether, 'Math Rock' is a phrase that I loathe to it's core. I don't want to be able to say, 'I'm into Math Rock, or Punk Rock, or Dance Music'. I'm just into music. That's it. I'm not going to pigeon hole myself into that kind of tripe.
Do you agree? If not, keep on walking. If so, this cd will be for you.
From the tinny, erratic tappings of the very first drumming of the nothing-short-of-special opener Race: In you know you're in for something that you might not call conventional. It is, however, a superior achievement none-the-less.
Atlas truly is the song of the year. It sounds like the themetune to a marching band of elves fronting an apocalypse of epic magnitude. Directly after comes Ddiamondd, which is almost as fun to say (especially if you're Welsh) as it is to listen to.
As well as this, they manage to out-Bloc-Party Bloc Party all within the one minute-odd that Snare Hanger lasts, and make the pure dementia of Leyendecker pretty damn sexy.
A mate of mine pulled me in off the street whilst he worked in a record shop in Aberystwyth to make me listen to Leyendecker. It actually made me feel a little physically sick at very first, but then for some reason I couldn't get the hook out of my head, and then, after time, it was almost like I needed it.
Add to this Tij, which sounds like a film score piece - only better, and the utterly stunning closer Race: Out, and you've got one of the most unforgettable, dedicated and blood-lust fuelled albums you will ever hear.
After recently seeing this band perform live I can say that this band are an event. Even watching them set up their equipment is strangley hypnotic.
What better way to get ready for a night on the town?