Paste

Moin

Seeing comparisons to outsider alternative rock greats like Unwound and Slint, I was really compelled to check out this band's last full-length record that came out last year. Unfortunately, it was one of those records that slipped through the cracks. Thankfully though, the band came back quick with another new record and I made sure to give it a listen. Actually, I gave it a lot of listens. Paste really seemed to connect with me. I really like the ominous, post-rock style, and the repetitive nature of these tracks certainly feels more meditative than monotonous. This is thanks to strong, creative drum beats, jarring guitar performances, interesting electronics and sound play, as well as the incorporation of voice clips or various found sounds. All of this is assembled into a fairly tight nine-track album that you can throw on and just escape for forty-two minutes.

Contrary to what the title suggests, this record gets off on the right foot with Foot Wrong. I love the percussion on this track with its active kick drums, the side snare rolls, and the occasional tom fills. The track also has these overblown, almost tribal sounding, wails that instantly perk up the ears. Melon makes use of heavily fuzzed guitars that play a surprisingly sweet melody. The drums are very rigid, rarely deviating from its initial pattern. Perhaps what is most striking about this tune is the somewhat off-putting voice sample. It calls out innocently enough, but it quickly turns mysteriously sinister with the declaration "you don't know me, but I know you... I sure as fuck know you." It is such an odd choice, and I'm just left with so many questions. Getting into more abstract territory, we have In a Tizzy. I found this track captivating with its piecemeal approach on the acoustic guitar, the angel choir pads, and the collage of random sounds. It reminds me a little of something The Books would do. The last song that I would say really impressed me was Life Choices. It has a killer drum pattern that will invert and reorient itself ever so often, keeping you on your toes. I also really like the set of samples assembled to create a strong instrumental hook. This one I just find really soothing to me; a nice way to wind this record down to a close.

There was one track that I didn't care for much, and that was Knuckle. It's a little more formless and the sloppier performances give it a kind of hazy, grunge sound. It's not really my main issue with the track given that the band does a similar sound on the closer Sink with better results, but the guitar riff is maybe the least appealing one on the record. On top of that, we have some noticeably triggered drum sounds, specifically a crash cymbal, that is used in a way that sounds really unnatural and cheap. I'm not quite sure how the drums were recorded, but I'm guessing it is a mix of electronic and acoustic drum performances that were captured. Again, don't have an issue with more electronic drum timbres, but in this specific instance, I don't think it was executed all that well. This song is really my only complaint though. Sure some tracks are a little more entrancing or groovier than others, but generally, I'm quite impressed. Paste is a record I can see myself vibing to for the foreseeable future.