Review: Parts And Labor - Stay Afraid (or) on the couch writhing in pain
Posted on 9 April 2007 | 1 Comment
Wow. Brooklyn’s Parts & Labor sure do make some glorious noize. And even though their 2006 album Stay Afraid was one of my faves from 2006, they are already back with another helping of frenzied indie-punk tunes wrapped up in waves of fuzzy distortion and screeching electronics. I love noise and experimental music, but never before has it been so catchy and melodic.
Parts & Labor’s newest album is called Mapmaker and will most certainly be at the top of my 2007 year end list. From the word go the band pounds ahead full-throttle. As with much of Stay Afraid the band oftentimes reminds me of a wilder and out-of-control Husker Du, but (as I’ve mentioned before) the lo-fi production and vocal melodies also remind me a little of Rogue Wave. Then there is the drumming. The rattle-your-brain drumming that could probably cause any volcano in the world to erupt within seconds.
“Malfunctioning electronics howl in agony, drums rupture like fireworks, battle cries are belted through a monolithic layer of distorted bass and guitar. P&L revel in day-glo noise, charred drones, punk velocity and phoenix-like hooks.”
Although I find Mapmaker to be a little less harsh than Stay Afraid it is by no means tame. In fact, it is sometimes hard to tell the difference between distorted guitar harmonics and the shrieking feedback of broken electronics. Listening to anything from Parts & Labor is a mind-blowing experience that is as awesome as it is exhausting.
Mapmaker is due out on Jagjaguwar Records on May 22nd and P&L will be on tour this spring with their Chicago stop coming on May 4th at the Empty Bottle. Don’t forget your earplugs.
MP3 | Parts & Labor – Fractured Skies Mapmaker
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Noise, Punk
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