Allow me to introduce British/Northern Irish math instrumentalist three piece Alright The Captain and their new three-track 123 EP. For such a young and new band, Alright The Captain built a strong résumé, having played alongside Italy’s noise-makers Zu and Ireland’s own And So I Watch You From Afar and Abebisi Shank. After so many rewarding gigs, ATC were in dire need of a proper release.

Alright The Captain, 123

Across 123 (which feels a little too brief, if you ask me) Alright The Captain interlace complex and obscure melodies with some extremely sensible song structures. Take the first track for example:

Neo Tokyo opens this quick debut with a fret-widdling exchange developing into some bass leads, all very jazzy and art rock influenced. After tantalising and enthralling soft melodies Neo Tokyo then ploughs into unhinged noise.

Track 2 is unleashed with wild screams of “Honey badger! Honey badger!” succeeded by dazzling bass, the track is called Honey Badger by the way! It highlights the bass talents of Todd Wood. It’s rather clear that in this three-piece, bass is the driving force. The riffing falls into a gentle, almost sombre section where a build begins, louder and louder, only to hastily cut out.

A cascading bass and guitar exchange opens third track Soundtrack Your Death (video below) which gradually builds in both atmosphere and heaviness. A crushing cacophony reigns supreme and then fades out, only to lead to some swooning and delicate melodies which slowly wind down. Then the aura fizzles out and 123 comes to a somewhat abrupt end.

123 is a satisfying listen considering its three tracks clock in at just over ten minutes. Across those ten minutes it sounds like one big jam session where notes carelessly flutter and to some that may be distracting but to most, hopefully, it will beckon a new band you can definitely get behind.
A succinct and focussed effort, 123 strains with barrel-loads of ambition and potential. A full length album is definitely needed. Keep an eye on these guys, especially if a gig happens to come your way.

Drop-d Rating: 8/10

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