EP: Girl Band ‘The Early Years’

Appearing across several “Ones To Watch” lists last year, Girl Band signed to the infamous Rough Trade and look set to create 2015 as the year of dance noise rock. Hailing from Dublin, the four piece released a cover of Blawan’s horror-techno track ‘Why They Hide Their Bodies Under my Garage?’ earlier this year, and have since built their newest EP, The Early Years, around it. Paving the way for a much awaited debut album, set for release in autumn, this newest offering sets a noisy soundscaping taste for what is hopefully yet to come.

Opener ‘Lawman’ indulgently highlights drummer Alan Faulkner’s innate ability in creating infectious rhythmic percussion, all flat beat and high-hat. Heavy electronic guitars automatically create the dark, scuzzy ambience that Girl Band are doing oh so beautifully. “I used to be good looking,” drawls lead singer Dara Kiely, with almost incomprehensible slurs. The track climaxes into a frenzied minute-length white noise thrashing of shouting vocals and guitar thrashes. ‘De Bom’ follows with more of that chaotic energy, with pounding drums and scratching samples, easily approaching a 120bmp techno territory. The drum, bass, guitar, vocal set up seems almost unlikely with the waves of furious aphotic senseless noise Girl Band ensue. Third track ‘Love You’ is possibly the only evidence of this typical set up, with a bass line that creeps up contagiously over the usual noise and beats.

Taking centre stage on the record, ‘’Why They Hide Their Bodies Under my Garage?’ is a sprawling eight minute cover that showcases Girl Band doing what they do best. Wave upon wave of muffled horror is paired with furious rhythmic thrashes and Kiely’s unfathomable screams of the title track repeated over and over again. It’s a delightfully scuzzy urgent track that feels like it shouldn’t really work, but the result is so wrong it’s right; harrowing techno. The EP is rounded off with ‘The Cha Cha’, a 30 second crammed explosion of annihilation.

Noise rock seems to be finally revolutionising with Girl Band and this latest release. The innovative Irishmen seem to be turning what used to be rage and aggression, into something that could easily be described as groovable chaos. If The Early Years is Girl Band’s first taster for the inevitable debut full length, then it’s definitely set to be a noisy one.

The Early Years is released on 22nd April via Rough Trade.

Katie Muxworthy

Katie Muxworthy

Katie Muxworthy

Mainly write and talk shite.
Katie Muxworthy

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