The promo email title read “Featuring members of Her Name Is Calla and Raging Speedhorn…” sign me up! Whilst br_nz_/_ge isn’t quite the genre melting pot of those two artists, certainly not the latter, if that would even be possible, it does remind me of my musical journey which led to falling in love with them both. Growing up through the Manics, Radiohead, Charlatans and Crashland I was introduced to music through Brit rock. By the early 2000’s I started to straddle the heaviness of Speedhorn with the indie leanings of Yourcodenameis: Milo and Seafood before floating into the post-rock of Her Name Is Calla. As my tastes have darkened the side open to innovative and intriguing indie has always remained. br_nz_/_ge hit that spot perfectly and hearing c_w_rds was a wonderful way to round out last year.
There is a unique individualism to the parts that make up c_w_rds but also an incredible unity to the sound and direction. The guitars cover ground from the angular origins of post-hardcore, to math-rock and even aspects of early Idlewild. When the incredible layered vocals are added it gives tracks such as ‘Amberola’ and ‘Head Home. Hide.’ an impression of being between Yourcodenameis: Milo’s ‘Rapt Dept’ and the soaring ‘17’. For much like them, while hinting at a disjointedness in its individualism the hit that is given when everything overlaps is stunning.
Whilst the separate arms of music are moving here and there the vocal delivery sits in the centre tying into everything and delivering incredible hooks. I was finding the lyrics floating and repeating in my head when I wasn’t listening to the album which is always a good sign. Once they hit the groove at the same time as the other instruments it is insatiable. There are so many ideas playing out which balance beautifully between chaos and unity it really is a stunning achievement.
The foundations of the bands can actually be traced back 15 years and it is incredible to now see this come to light in such a coherent fashion. c_w_rds is an incredibly catchy album, the sum of its parts adds together perfectly and the sides of awkwardness and individuality mix to perfection. The cacophony on display through every track is a revelation and this would be an incredible addition to a festival such as Arctangent.
