Loom
Angler
Exigent Records
While it would be easy to cram Loom into a “sounds like” column with bands like Ugly Organ-era Cursive and Murder by Death because of violinist Kim Pack’s contributions (yeah, I know those other two bands are rocking cellos) that label is misleading. Loom take the spazzy guitar lines of latter day At The Drive-In, post-punk’s sense of relentless rhythm (see Q and Not U), and buffet the whole thing with group vocals that are much more basement show than anything Cursive or Murder By Death have done.
While the music is an explosive and stabbing mixture of textures and fury, the five tracks on Angler are all cut the same cloth. Yes, it is a cloth worth rocking, but it leaves one to wonder if a full-length from Loom would grow old. Angler is just short enough to hold one’s attention despite repeated themes, and, if conceived to be an inter-related one off release, an excellent effort in that department. It’s just that by the time you reach the EP’s fourth track, “Tracers,” you sort of start to ask questions like “can we hear a guitar riff that isn’t based around pull offs?” or “can one vocalist take the focus, or can vocals be traded?”
Loom are a talented band with a rich and jittery sound that is striking and exciting, they just need to learn a few more ways to express it.
Posted under Hometown
This post was written by MyFriendCleveland on February 20, 2008
