
Released on: 30 August 2011
They’re from: San Marcos, Texas
Sounds like: putting your ear to a banjo and hearing the ocean.
Hear it: Bandcamp
____________________________________________
I must have a musical guardian angel who drops all these great bands in my lap like this. Allow me to introduce Equals, whose debut self-titled EP is blowing my mind. Part Always the Runner, part Toe, Equals play eclectic, electrics-infused post-rock packaged into tidy 4-5 minute tracks. And when I say eclectic, I mean glitchy samples breaking out into a surge of tremolo, followed up by some banjo, capped off with a sick Wurlitzer line.
Equals construct songs with Irepress levels of energy, working in grooves and smashing together chunks of song from entirely different sonic geographies into cohesive tracks that really stick. Some instrumental music laps at your toes or billows placidly; some of it is best suited as background music, but Equals keeps you engaged.
The opening of “Salvo” reminds me a lot of Boyfrndz, who I wrote about yesterday. It’s probably the most electric-tinged bunch of bars on the EP, but the electrics give way to acoustic guitar, of all things, and then both sounds combine into a neat marriage of acoustic and electric, which is then layered with a gorgeous wash of treated vocals. Standout tracks for me, though, are “Table Monster” and “Electric Blanket,” thanks to their diversity of sound.
“Table Monster” brings the groove right quick — definitely gives me Irepress vibes — then lumps on tremolo, which dithers into staticy ambience. “Electric Blanket” lives up to its title, opening with an electric drumbeat and a lone guitar line. The song rouses slow like sleeping in. It’s classic post-rock, but the electric drums lend the build up an unusual sort of energy. The crescendo is like flicking a light switch between sunny ambience and short, driving bursts of darker melody. And the bridge? Groovy, stuffed with great drum work, some Wurlitzer, nimble guitars. What’s not to love?
If you’re in need of some fresh blood in your instrumental folder— hell, even if you’re not, even if your hard drive is overflowing with music and porn, you gotta eke out some room for this EP, or y’know, just stream it first. Either way, Equals are excellent, excellent post-rock.
Keep these recommendations coming!