Review: Fret! - Killing Susan EP

Fret! were a new band to me, I'd never heard of them until an email popped into my inbox. I'll admit what grabbed my attention first was the list of bands with whom they have shared a stage: Mike Watt, Blown Out, Sly and the Family Drone, Deathfix, Workin' Man's Noise Unit - that's a mighty fine list! On the strength of that alone I gave their 'Killing Susan' EP a listen....and I'm very glad I did! It has been put out by Cruel Nature Records, a small DIY label and I'm always glad to give them a shout out.

Opener, title track 'Killing Susan' opens with some evocative twang guitar (courtesy of Steve Strode) that leads you to expect some nameless gunslinger to appear, and is soon joined by some thumping drums (Rob Woodcock). This combination pretty much succeed in building up some tension before the tormented vocals of Cath Tyler turn the atmosphere into something much more sinister. For a brief minute the control that the band have over the track melts away and a glorious tumult of noisy guitar and drums barges its way into proceedings, but this is momentary and soon that control is reimposed and the twang/drums sees the track out - a highly optimistic opener. 'Sonic Poof!' follows and is a beast of a slightly different colour; the twang makes way for a more post-rock approach. Charged stabs of noise compete with a drum beat that wouldn't sound out of place on a Killdozer record. Underlying it all is a vaguely discernible drone that provides the backdrop for the angular shards of noise. As the track progresses it evolves into a more noise rock orientated beast - the tempo is cranked up a tad and the stabs of sound bleed into each other until in becomes a morass of glorious noise. 'Boner M' (great title) again starts in post rock mode, the guitar is melodic and sounds like it has been lifted from an Explosions In The Sky track. The drums and bass keep perfect time and everything on track until a stunning climax - like Godspeed!YBE on amphetamines....great stuff. 'Swamp Ting' has a touch of surf about it, but with more balls and attitude than your average surf band....it is discordant at times, which only adds to the proceedings....this is my fave from the EP - if Amphetamine Reptile released a drag racing soundtrack...then this is it! EP closer 'Punch' is also the shortest of the five tracks at just 2.31m. It seemlessly blends everything that has gone on before on one short and pithy blast of sound - it has the same touch of surf, the post rock sensibilities and above all it is noisy as fuck. A fine way to end a fine EP.

What Fret! have accomplished is noteworthy; they have simultaneously breathed some life into the sometimes turgid post rock arena whilst keeping the angular noise spirit of AmRep and Blast First alive. 'Killing Susan' is a fine EP by a promising band...one to keep your eye on in the future. It would also be worth your while to check out their single 'Attune' b/w 'Cowboy' - they manage to create something that incorporates punky surf with some alt-folk vocals...great stuff. Both can be purchased by the Cruel Nature Bandcamp site here. The EP comes in vinyl, 12" limited to 250 copies, and the single is also a limited run of 250 on 7" (you can also get them together as a bundle). The fab artwork on both is courtesy of Bristol artist Tom McCarthaigh.