Turn To
Crime – Can’t Love (Mugg & Bopp Records/Old Flame Records)
LP/Cassette/CD/DL
Out Now
Detroit
Indie/Drift-Rock trio release their debut album.
I could
write what I know about Turn To Crime on the back of a postage stamp. It would be a First Class one though.
Formerly of
Awesome Color, Derek Stanton fronts an experimental trio with seven (if you
count the fifty-six second opener I) tracks of raw jams which are crushing and
contagious. The title track has superb
muffled percussion which repeats from start to end, with equally gagged vocals
it could just become one of those tracks that you have on permanent repeat.
Equally, the
stomp beat of Sunday’s Cool could almost have come from the repertoire of The
Clash with a vocal style not totally unlike Mr Strummer. It bounds along with a smug swagger and
every confidence you’d expect from a band that have a dozen album under their
belt.
But the
album isn’t all fuzzed-out guitars and loud drums as Pine Box
demonstrates. Bringing proceedings down
to Earth with a pithy bump it scuttles along quite nicely thank you very much,
and shows a tender side that may not at first be evident from the openers. Forgiveness brings back a forceful
percussion, almost native American, almost Dylan-esque, lamented voice and
succinct keyboards.
Nightmares
sees Turn To Crime turning more experimental with guitars which screech and
meander through a distorted forest with echoed effects and vocals. It generates a semi-frightening backdrop and
is interesting listening indeed.
Ending with I
Can’t Not Love, an extended instrumental of the title track with less percussion
and heavier base, sounding like an early New Order making the transition from
Joy Division. At over ten and a half
minutes long it becomes slightly pretentious and maybe experimental for
experimental sake, but does give further credence to the band and their addictive
style.
8.5/10
Links
Published on Louder Than War 9/07/14 - here
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