Reviewing Wax Donut's Day Old Donuts for The Sleeping Shaman was a blessing seeing as it exposed me to tons of new music I'd otherwise not have the opportunity to check out. Genre is Death featured on the aforementioned compilation alongside Dead Senses (whose Dreamless album I recently covered for Clean Sheets) performing a sterling cover of The Sonic's Garage classic 'Strychnine'.
This New York two-piece are Ty Varesi and Tayler Lee of which I know virtually nothing as there is scant information regarding them. The band are evidentially new having only released a four-track demo prior to Talk, and as opposed to the majority of artists positively prostituting themselves all over social media, I find their more low-key approach somewhat refreshing. What I did mange to discover is that they have an underground Horror publication by the name of Underbelly Mag as well as an associated clothing brand titled Underbelly Rags. It'll be interesting therefore to see whether this fascination with Horror bleeds over to the music or whether its kept purposely distinctly separate.
'Beyond Good People' opens with a maelstrom of feedback and distortion which should inform you from the off that this definitely isn't Taylor Swift. Instead it's the type of Avant-garde Noise you'd find on fellow New Yorker Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music. As someone with an appreciation for that album I get what the band are going for here, in any case it's only just over a minute so, (shrugs shoulders). 'Burn Quick' is the first 'proper' track and there's a cool sleazy vibe that brings to mind Pussy Galore and a pre Sub-Pop Dwarves topped off with Tayler's Kim Gordonesque Vocals. Very cool. 'In of It' features a danceable beat akin to a fucked up Acid House Party accompanied by some sweet Public Image Limited and No Trend style Post-Punk/Noise-Rock. I mean this was never not going to appeal to yours truly lets be honest. 'You' has a Killing Joke apocalyptic darkness and makes you think of that band's 'Primitive from their classic 1980 S/T debut with some Bad Moon Rising Sonic Youth slipped in for good measure. Again it's like the band have gone through my music collection and managed to concoct the kind of track guaranteed to tick my boxes.
'Essential Things' demonstrates a change-up in styles and a band unafraid of musical exploration featuring the moody Goth atmospherics of The Cure's Seventeen Seconds and Faith. There's a sparse, minimalist quality present which help make it such an enchanting, engrossing listen. 'Receiver' by contrast has a more aggressive, abrasive sound like Black Flag and Helmet getting in a knife fight from which neither emerges victorious. Fans of The Boredoms and other such demented Japanoise should check out this absolute gem too. 'Images' is Grungy, sounding like Nirvana when they stopped giving a fuck about record label expectations (think Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip) while 'Hot Rats' embraces Black Flag in a more direct way this time round, especially the superb Greg Ginn Guitar playing. 'ID' is a deliciously sneering Teenage Jesus and The Jerks fashioned number, one can imagine for instance Lydia Lunch performing this in her younger years and 'Talk' concludes the album on a gloriously sloppy, unhinged Royal Trux/Velvet Underground note.
Musical duos tend to often be underwhelming and overhyped affairs, (White Stripes, The Kills, The Black Keys etc). However Genre is Death are devoid of such Indie hipster cool, instead focused on making genuinely interesting creative music, with Talk marking the band out as ones to watch for the future. Recommended.
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