While Bad Seed spin-offs wither in their self-created pits of despair, they might wonder where the soul went. Barry Adamson has it, and he’s not giving it back.
Epic transformations which at first seem incongruous become natural crescendos, multi-dimensioned vocal melodies prove themselves to be many limbs to one body.
Where previous releases saw The Stereo plowing through every song with muscular anthems, Rewind+Record retains the potency without roaring past the listener.
Everything we’ve come to know and love about No Knife: Samurai blade-sharp guitar slices, clever/danceable beats, angular riff-o-ramas, heartfelt crooning…
This should’ve followed Scared Straight. The hollowed-out three-chord punkers that dominated the last two albums are replaced by well-crafted rock songs.
Sucking the ’70s succeeds where so many before have failed because the concept encapsulates such a large chunk of space and encourages bands to take chances.