Pennsylvania based trio Catatonic Suns have chosen the perfect name. On their first full-length for Agitated, their blend of feral vocals and taut rhythms overlaid with lashing guitars hints at stasis and the retina-burning wash of a new day.
That heavy fug of distorted guitars will be familiar to any alternative fan of a certain age, but their way of weaving them together is warming and effective. With feet on pedals they push on as the vocals drawl and drip, melting into the lolloping ’90s groove as stuttering solos burst out of the surf.
The songs are surprisingly succinct and although you can hear nods to the likes of The Heads and Loop, this grungey pop is more about a short, sharp three-minute thrill, taking in all manner of diverse moods, with guitar solos stuffed into the crevices of songs, splashing cymbals overlapping at every turn. There is something quite affecting about Patrick Shields‘ vocals with a little poignancy in the tone which, when allied to the insistence of the drumming and that warm blanket of fuzz guitars, reminiscent of the likes of Ride, makes for an interesting mix. At points the warm guitars seem to carry the soft, searching vocals; and at others, the delicious meaty bass takes control with the rhythm section leading the way, guitars spiralling and blossoming around you. It is an interesting journey through which some unexpected vocal melodies appear and dissipate, pushing us eventually into the long-form closer where things slow right down and the trio decides to sludge it out, dispensing with the three-minute blast and instead seeing how things unravel naturally. The throat-bursting vocals are a revelation, while the taut, muscular bass pushes through the scree of guitar.You have the feeling that this might just push them over the edge; but they keep things in hand and the album dissolves in a measured swirl. Catatonic Suns is an album of light and shade that looks forward while reminding us of their place in the lineage of American guitar bands. It will be interesting to see how things develop.
-Mr Olivetti-
