The latest from absolutely fucking incredible UK outfit This Et Al is "The Figure Eight" EP, recently released by On the Bone Records, and I have to say that I dig this band so damn much that I bought this shit off iTunes the very morning it was released. They're just that good. Outside my normal listening realm, yeah, but without a doubt one of the best bands (if not the best) I've discovered in the last few years. On MySpace they deem it "Rock/Shoegaze/Indie" and list amongst their influences My Bloody Valentine, Radiohead, The Smiths, and Interpol—to name but a few—and I'll let that suggest what they may or may not sound like, as I still don't really know what the hell I'd call it. All those sorts of influences are definitely swirling around in there, but at the end of the day all I care about is the songs, and I'm consistently blown away by just how many completely awesome songs this band has written to date. Dark, melodic, catchy, atmospheric, moving, on occasion loosely experimental... they do it all, and they do it fucking brilliantly. I know I've turned several people onto this band and I hope I continue to do so for as long as they continue making music... and I hope that's for quite some time to come. I know this isn't really a "review", but I don't give a shit. Just check these guys out, and if you like what you hear, check out everything they've done. Everything.
This Et Al "Ice Age" (excerpt)
Get It
On the Bone Records (10")
eMusic (mp3)
iTunes (mp3)
Comments
always appreciate finding new stuff due to this site and others. since the ep was cheap on the itunes i went ahead and bought it to fully digest it. love the very lively recording..makes you feel as if you are in the room while they are playing. rockon
6.11.2008 | By ben
Oh hell yes ... this band fucking rules. I heard the two tracks you posted from the Baby Machine album way back when, and like a total ass I neglected to check out the rest of the album until about a month ago. Needless to say I was completely blown away; I’m not making the same mistake with the EP. Any idea if it will be getting an actual CD release in the US?
6.11.2008 | By Anonymous
Good shit, I’m always stoked by your non-metal reviews. If you’re looking for additional quality music that would be outside of your normal listening realm, I recommend checking out jagjaguwar records. This label consistently blows my mind with music I wouldn’t typically listen to. Whether you’re looking for throwback rock&roll (Black Mountain), indie (Minus Story), experimental (Oneida, Parts and Labor), or lo-fi weirdness (Sunset Rubdown); they cover lots of ground. You might find some of these bands to be too “retro” or “mellow”, but I know that you liked some of the stuff that It’sATrap covers and I could easily see them taking an interest in many of these bands (if they were from that region). So, I figured I’d let you know because it’s hard finding good music that isn’t on the heavier side of things.
6.11.2008 | By paul
Im glad you throw in these non-metal reviews, they are almost always great. The last track on this is awesome.
6.17.2008 | By breathingdust
wow - just bought ep and baby machines on itunes. good find man - these guys are the real fucking deal. i’m am rocking the fuck out at work right now….
thanks so much
6.24.2008 | By sidewalksurfing