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Independent [release date 25.11.22]
What happens when the Pure Assassins’ drum and bass hedonist picks up a guitar and embraces existentialism?
It is sometimes suggested that existentialism is just this bygone cultural movement rather than an identifiable philosophical position.
But here, by adding more layers to the band’s traditional Drum and Bass sound, Pure Assassins turn their urban noir lyrics and primal guitar howl into something emotionally captivating.
This “visionary rock”, hewn by the hands of multi instrumentalist / producer Chris (Calyx) Rush, poses lost of questions and only hints at the answers.
Add the fact that he has an extraordinary grasp of what sound can do to the senses.
Lets have a ‘sounds like’ first. Rush sounds like Raine Maida on the drawling, dragging title track, ‘Questions’, shouting into the void, looking for answers.
The “Buster Keaton/ Silent Movie” video that accompanies this trailer track injects a bit of surreal humour into the song, but even without the video, it’s an impressive opener. And to quote from Lou Reed’s five rules of songwriting, “use simple words to convey rich thoughts”. The Pure Assassins music inclines toward that same hypnotic repetition that we hear in the songs of The Velvet Underground.
Equally impressive is ‘Time Machine’s simple strum, full of discordant guitar and clanging notes as the vocals rise to a despetrate howl and a sighing choir.
Rush’s concise, mesmeric lyrics, are often vocalised with a question mark on the end. There’s a deeper meaning in there that’s struggling to get out.
“Observe and describe characters in situations”. Another of Reed’s songwriting rules, is a perfect fit for ‘Dance With Me’. The glassy guitars, dreamy soundscapes and soporific pacing carefully reveal words that echo into the distance.
The message is clearly that the turbulence of modern life numbs the emotions.
Personal relationships suffer. We need to work at it harder.
We hear you. ****
Review by Brian McGowan
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