moving mess of sound
aheadphonehome's debut album is an intricate and fascinating weave of sound. Fuzzy guitars, crunchy drum programming, lost and watery vocal samples, tape hiss, synths and organ. Under all the moving noise is a bunch of dreamlike rock and folk songs which reveal themselves more and more over time. The band seem to have one foot in Sonic Youth territory and one foot on Elliot Smith's grave. The lyrics (once you can discern them) are outstanding. Images and rhymes echoing around inside each phrase. Take this example from the swaggering Sugar Shards: "a glass house of cards/stoned you shatter into shards". The words are cohesive across the record, which in the end seems to be an almost concept album about static. As a metaphor for the buzzing trouble inside, but also as in literally being stuck still. Despite the weighty subject matter it's a hopeful record that rushes to a euphoric/nostalgic peak with the glorious and strange AM. Highly recommended.
