Split EP of the year? I think so – this is a real gem. Deep Elm very really fail to produce the goods (or from the material I’ve heard anyway) and this release, featuring Brandtson, Camber and Seven Storey, doesn’t fail either. Infact it’s nothing short of sublime and makes me want to track down more songs from each band – and surely that’s the idea…
The only downside is that there is just one Brandtson song…and because ‘Dead Animals’ is so good it leaves me wanting to put some of their other records straight on afterwards. If you liked the ‘Death and Taxes’ material then this song is the perfect extension to it, it carries on in the same melodic vein and is sure to win even more new fans. A band on the up, I for one cannot wait for their next full-length record.
Camber provide three songs for this split and it’s the first time that I’ve come across them – I can assure you that it won’t be the last. It’s difficult to describe who they sound like really, except to say that if you enjoy Brandtson you will almost certainly like Camber. There’s probably more of a ‘throaty’ or raw vocal style which gives the band an edge, but the likes of ‘I Could Not Care Less’ sound absolutely fantastic. ‘Goodbye Mr Spaulding’ shows that they have an extra quality about their music with a quieter side that proves they can be just as effective unplugged. If someone wants to buy me an early Christmas present they can buy me a Camber record. Seven Storey are an entirely different prosepct, harsher and less instant than the other two bands, but every bit as good. There’s more driving guitars, more energy…it’s different but just as good. Bonus points go to the lovely artwork too, it’s eyecatching and thoughtprovoking in equal measure.
In short, this is one release that you must own. Buying direct from Deep Elm is as cheap as chips and something that you really should do…
www.deepelm.com