Cleveland, Ohio’s SIGNALS MIDWEST are in fine company. Taking nods from bands like BEAR VS. SHARK vocally and THE MENZINGERS musically, their sound doesn’t stray far into the unfamiliar, but there’s something about the quartet’s approach that makes ‘Latitudes and Longitudes’ very, very listenable.
The band aren’t as experimental as BEAR VS. SHARK, but carry much of the same magnetic passion lyrically and vocally to draw people in. ‘I Was Lost‘, in particular, is brilliantly arranged, and the whole album fits together nicely for its 40 minutes without dragging.
The instrumental work throughout is excellent, and though they may have to define their own sound a little on future releases, all the elements required for a great album are present.
‘Latitudes and Longitudes’ is well worth checking out if you’re a fan of gruff punk, but there’s much more to SIGNALS MIDWEST than that, and it’s bursting with great ideas.
TOM AYLOTT