‘Night Tape’ showcases an act on the rise
The latest offering from the south London anti-hit factory that is No Pain In Pop – quite the up-and-coming label and promoters – is a too-brief gem from noise-pop duo Gentle Friendly, a pair whose music transcends conventions to arrive at a puzzling end product that’s as blissful as it is beguilingly bombastic.
Coming in at just four tracks, the longest of which runs for only two-and-a-half minutes, ‘Night Tape’ showcases an act, like their label, obviously on the rise. With touchstones including Animal Collective, HEALTH and Fuck Buttons, their esoterically rich output isn’t without its influences, but David and Daniel – for those are their names – twist the familiar avant into engrossing patterns anew.
‘Five Girl Night’ kicks off proceedings, a delicately fuzzing opening shattered by vocal shrieks and percussive excess before drones wander off the map and everything becomes a glorious whole of shimmering volume and snake hips. What it starts, ‘XXXMas’ continues, here cut-and-pasted effects layered atop frantic sticks-on-skins sweatiness. Discernable (well, sensible) vocals are in limited supply, but like the aforementioned trio of acts referential, they’re here to fit the music, not to tell a story unrelated to the sounds around it. Fans of Deerhoof and even Gang Gang Dance will find kicks to be had here, too.
We’re not suggesting Gentle Friendly toy with the nonsensical – everything here is very deliberately arranged. The point is that vocals are no afterthought; they’re as much an instrument as the drums, organ and keys. ‘Sky Burial’ makes this clear, sonic peaks and troughs scaled and plumbed by David’s Liars-recalling growls and shocked-panther shrieks. Come ‘Ride Symbols’, the EP’s closer, a taste is well-settled: one that’s sweet, but also deep of flavour beyond mere sugar-rush quick-fixes.
Indeed, it’s a taste addictive – a follow-up release can’t come quick enough. Be sure to begin charting Gentle Friendly’s successes now, as soon they’re bound to have found a plain of recognition beyond us mere mortals.
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No Pain In Pop DJs drop beats at the Clash Saturday Social on December 13, at London's Notting Hill Arts Club - click HERE for further information.
Coming in at just four tracks, the longest of which runs for only two-and-a-half minutes, ‘Night Tape’ showcases an act, like their label, obviously on the rise. With touchstones including Animal Collective, HEALTH and Fuck Buttons, their esoterically rich output isn’t without its influences, but David and Daniel – for those are their names – twist the familiar avant into engrossing patterns anew.
‘Five Girl Night’ kicks off proceedings, a delicately fuzzing opening shattered by vocal shrieks and percussive excess before drones wander off the map and everything becomes a glorious whole of shimmering volume and snake hips. What it starts, ‘XXXMas’ continues, here cut-and-pasted effects layered atop frantic sticks-on-skins sweatiness. Discernable (well, sensible) vocals are in limited supply, but like the aforementioned trio of acts referential, they’re here to fit the music, not to tell a story unrelated to the sounds around it. Fans of Deerhoof and even Gang Gang Dance will find kicks to be had here, too.
We’re not suggesting Gentle Friendly toy with the nonsensical – everything here is very deliberately arranged. The point is that vocals are no afterthought; they’re as much an instrument as the drums, organ and keys. ‘Sky Burial’ makes this clear, sonic peaks and troughs scaled and plumbed by David’s Liars-recalling growls and shocked-panther shrieks. Come ‘Ride Symbols’, the EP’s closer, a taste is well-settled: one that’s sweet, but also deep of flavour beyond mere sugar-rush quick-fixes.
Indeed, it’s a taste addictive – a follow-up release can’t come quick enough. Be sure to begin charting Gentle Friendly’s successes now, as soon they’re bound to have found a plain of recognition beyond us mere mortals.
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No Pain In Pop DJs drop beats at the Clash Saturday Social on December 13, at London's Notting Hill Arts Club - click HERE for further information.
Gentle Friendly
