Their unusually titled... well not so unusually titled I suppose if
you've been there before, Hot Water
Music lands not so softly on their new label with a new
record. A progression of sorts, so say the transcripts, and we may
quickly guess they're coming from some much more rugged roots than the
final output here, rugged enough in a traditionally-steeped abandoned
warehouse practice room sort of way, but also tempered in some fine use
of melodies and unabashed hooks -- which dig right in from the opening
moments of the title track and the particularly catchy "Paper Thin"
which might be well placed as first single.
Unexpectedly, Epitaph's
latest find comes off very unlike the twin-toned, tattooed, and buttery
skate-Punk and Pop charm we're used to humming along with in recent
days. Hot Water Music comes at you much more suddenly; deviant yet
clearly defined, often varied and always emotive, sometimes Rock, yet
inches away from something else Clash-like, bizarre and bluesy. First
impressions are of the latest find for the burgeoning underground
movement that's resurrected Post-Punk/Death Rock and 1973 all in one
quick rev of the engine, however further along, there are many
instrumental intricacies that blend well with the full force blow by of
the amps and rushing riffs.
An odd cover image to go with an even odder
name that from a pure artistic sense makes little in the early going and
so then "A Flight and a Crash" could mean different things to different
people from all walks of listening life and varied degrees of
consciousness.
At the fore, I'm getting a challenging listen, much like
the recent workings of an Align or even Propaghandi technically
speaking -- and only technically speaking, an Indie-Rock flavor with a
sharp edge and maneuverability often set aside in favor of the latter,
and a flight pattern that's not easy to endure for easily tainted first-
timers.
