Not exactly an easy listening experience, this album by oddly named post-punk/art-rockers METH & GOATS. Musically it's all over the place. The relatively accessible moments bear some resemblance to the earlier works of AT THE DRIVE-IN or RADIOHEAD, the next moment they're in full noise mode again, like some chaotic bastard offspring of SLINT and JESUS LIZARD. The song material overall is surprisingly strong (not always a given with this kind of music), but it takes a patient listener to get through all the dissonant chords, weird time changes, jagged and seemingly (but not really) chaotic rhythms and intense vocals without getting...well, somewhat tired actually. It's like the band knows this because about halfway through the record the noise suddenly makes way for a beautiful and haunting semi-acoustic instrumental. The album ends with an instrumental called "Moon Reprise", which as the title indicates is sort of an alternative version of album opener "How Does He Get To The Moon?". Basically it's a semi-drone version of the riff from that song for nearly nine minutes. Personally I like this track the best, because it's a great riff, not as erratic (i.e. tiring) as the rest of the album and you can just lean against the wall of noise. Definitely recommended for people into this kind of post-hardcore/indie/art-rock kind of thing, for this is a way above average release. All others beware!

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/methspace

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