A couple of years back, through the miracle that is the Internet (it’s a series of tubes), I was able to find and befriend some really great folks that are in the UK, and specifically the Manchester area, that are actively innovating, creating and sharing great, progressive music (looking at you, Trojan Horse!). I’ve even witnessed the births of new Progressive Rock subgenres: Prog Nouveau and Turbo Prog.
This review addresses the music of the latter, Turbo Prog, as coined and created by Cleft. By their own account, they are the purveyors of Prog Epics that have been condensed, shortened and honed and sharpened down to a brisk and sometimes bone-rattling 3 minutes. While I have always loved the Prog, even when it was self-indulgent and meandering, I have to admit that the distillation of just the essentials is pleasing to the ear. It appeals to that inner child that loves Marillion as much as he loves Minor Threat and Bad Religion.
My first thought, of course, upon hearing that Cleft is a two-piece outfit was that this is the Prog White Stripes or Black Keys; Stripped down, no nonsense, all guitars and drums and hyperkinesis. After punching my own nose for making such a cliched, obvious statement, I listened to Cleft‘s latest EP, and the subject herein, ‘Whale Bone’, again. And again.
Turbo Prog, which as far as I know is Cleft‘s creation, is like a hybrid animal – Math Rock/Prog Rock/Hardcore/Lo-Fi – a bastard freak of nature that is not only complex and precise, but also visceral, fast and hard. There’s none of the twiddly, masturbatory antics of the OG Prog masters; even devotees of the Prog genre (like me) can get burned out on the self-involved showmanship that was often associated with the likes of Yes.
What’s left after you take away cape-wearing synth wizards and laser shows, you ask? Plenty of what we love about Prog: Time changes, level changes, fast starts and stops, virtuoso instrument handling. Combine all that with the DIY ethic and speed of Hardcore, and the many effect pedals of the shoegaze set, and you have the fresh and original ‘Whale Bone’ EP. It’s like a sandwich without the crust, where the crust is bullshit and filler.
In the spirit of Turbo Prog, I will dedicate as few words as possible to describe the actual songs on the EP:
‘Gulch’: Fast, loud, cool drums, cool guitar effects. Blisteringly good opener.
‘Trapdoor’: Longest, most melodic, cool space-rock feel in parts.
‘Interglutial’: Mathy, fast, tight as hell starts and stops.
‘Tight As A Witch’s’: Short, fast, tight, the most straight-on rock sounding track after the Sci-Fi opening.
‘Flexuous’: Jazzier, less bombast at first, cool use of multi-tracking. My fave.
The names of the songs, the EP, and the band itself, indicate to me that the duo have a sense of humour that might be like that of an adolescent male (potty, shit and fart oriented). Just my speed, to be honest; In fact, I got a good chuckle out of Cleft‘s logo, a ‘W’ with rounded edges, indicating an ass crack. Mint! Taking oneself too seriously causes warts anyway.
Check out Cleft on Bandcamp, buy their EPs, share with friends. Maybe, just maybe, some kid out there, with a second hand guitar, will hear Cleft and others of their ilk, and figure out that you don’t need Corporate-sponsored, multi-tiered keyboard rigs to make Prog.
Buy Independent.
Posted by Jake Gillen.
