Album Review

Video Nasties – Albatross EP

• 30th Nov 2008

High octane, fuzzed up tunes that mixes grit with vehemence and recalls memories of Pavement, The Sonic Youth and to a lesser extent Television.

The focal point of self-titled opener is bolting percussion and the desperate vocal lunge of James Churcher. His vocal versatility comes out soon afterwards for ‘Heart And Bones’, as a more ambient hold takes over.

City life is dissected with the precision of a science student cutting up their first bullfrog. The narrative occasionally takes the form of that of a desperate down and out opening out to his therapist, an approach that seems to be waning in popularity these days.

This four track parade equally successfully uses the snappy two minute rock formula and the epic emotion building approach.

‘Man’, gives the vocals a lower key touch to broaden the impact of the slightly wining guitars and spacey accompaniment. It is a good example of Video Nasties’ atmospheric instrumentalism and is one of those dreamy rock tracks you just have to drift away to.

Atmospheric rock has taken a knock of late, but this act could be the helping hand it needs.