I often wonder if Chicago three-piece underhand fully realise this good thing that they got. With no fanfare whatsoever they have just released their third album, entitled scenes from wherever. Recorded with Greg Norman at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio Studio, the band have once again knocked it out of the park with some inventive and stunning instrumental rock music. The trio of Courtney Grove (drums, synths, machines), Sean McCarthy (bass) and Michael Hayden (guitar, synth) have teamed up with Spotlights’ Mario Quintero who provides excellent mastering. I must also give credit to Brian Bochenek for the beautiful artwork that adorns the cover.
Throbbing drones hover with menace at the start of the curiously titled ‘god entered my body as a body my same size’. The scraping beat and howling guitars bring a tense atmospheric, conjuring visions of deserted wastelands. When that familiar Electrical Audio kick drum THUD wallops into the mix it’s reassuring, like a departed loved one appearing in a dream. Guitars start to wake from their slumber bringing volume and dynamic, telling a story. There’s a dark hue that clouds over the serenity as the guitar mimics whales with immense waves of sound. Eventually the track explodes with a myriad of guitar screeches before gliding into a passage of melodic tones, saving you from the claustrophobic terror. The final passage fires up the distortion as the guitars rage and the drums shake the earth. Which just leaves a beautiful passage of shimmering guitars to bring us home.
‘bee bater pt.1’ wastes no time getting locked into a volcanic eruption of heavy guitars and crashing drums. Every thud and crack of the drums chips away at your bones. Even in the quieter reflective passages Courtney lays out a thunderous pattern of beats, oblivious to the rest of the band setlling into a more gentile sequence. The push and pull of drums and guitars play out leaving you on edge wondering if there’s going to be a crescendo of volume. The guitars morph into tones that sound like glass being scraped and smashed before grinding into a passage of choppy distortion. Some glorious riffs and solos finally merge with Courtney who has been on high alert the entire track.
In ‘idle vapourings of a mind diseased’ chime bells twinkle in the early morning wind before backtracked guitars swallow them up. Ghostly percussion rattles like bones as ambient drones engulf creating an uneasy atmospheric. As the track rises up from the hazy mist gorgeous slide guitar brings a warm rush of comfort. The stunning scorched guitar that destroys the ambience is like a dragon racing in from the sky, you can only but marvel at its splendour. Finally, crushing guitars and punishing drums shake off any notion of the track ending as it started.
‘bee eater pt.1, pt.2’ lurches out of the speakers like a drunk fellow making his way down a darkly lit street. Out of control and in danger of either crashing into something or causing harm, the track teases with some wayward dynamics. I’m amazed I have got this far into the review without referencing another band, that shows you how unique the underhand sound is. So by way of busting that premise, I’m reminded of early And So I Watch You From Afar with the way this track switches from dreamy to malevolent in the blink of an eye.
Seismic drones quiver and throb as the final track ‘church horse’ gathers up momentum. A euphoric swell of melodic shimmering guitars offer some hope from the previous atmospherics. This is just glorious, sit back and allow those waves of distorted guitar engulf you and transcend you to a higher plane. I swear I can hear the guitars mimic demonic laughter as the band set about dismantling any notions of settling in this utopia. Grinding to an eventual stop (literally) the track teases with sporadic blasts of noise, yet there is an immense sense of control as the super-tight musicians dip in and out of Shellac-like grooves. Well, it is Albini’s studio after all.
I had the privilege of reviewing underhand’s previous album. To find that the band had just dropped a new album, with the added bonus of this particular recording studio, I was always going to be ready to receive. Once again, this band have created a superb album of atmospheric instrumental music that manages to sound utterly unique in a quite overpopulated area. Settle back and let underhand work their magic on you. This is seriously good music.
