Southkill

Item: Southkill
Author: Mike Leech

Southkill

(2004)

Reviewed by Mike Leech

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Label Noreaster Failed IndustriesDecapolisJune 2004

experimental post-rock shoegaze

So I really don't know what to say about this one. First of all, they tell me it's an EP, but EP's generally aren't thirty-six minutes long. Also, this is supposedly a two-piece band, but they sound way too filled out for that to be true. And then there's the matter of describing the music. I suppose I could take the easy route and simply write it off as a substandard imitation of slow core meanderings from bands like Isis or Explosions in the Sky (and it kind of is). But then what about the times when they sound more like My Bloody Valentine, Smashing Pumpkins or Mogwai? What a pickle.

Well I can at least tell you what you should expect to hear if you decide to pick this up. A whole lot of distorted guitars, pulsating drums and very little singing. That's about it. The deafening noise can actually be pretty melodic and almost sorta catchy at times, but mostly in a "this sounds all sweet and dark and stuff, so let's play it over and over for seven minutes" kind of way. It's plain to see that these guys are talented, but this album just doesn't work. It's way too repetitive and lacks some much-needed tension. Though it isn't exactly horrible, it also isn't exactly good. I wish I could at least recommend it as bedtime music, but then you'd all probably have nightmares about being trapped under never-ending trains that keep blowing their whistles over and over.

1.5/4