Place to Bury Strangers - A Place to Bury Strangers

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 16 / 2 / 2008

Label: Select Label
Format: N/A

intro

Anthony Strutt examines the eponymous debut album of the self-proclaimed loudest band in New York, A Place to Bury Strangers, which he missed out on when it was released at the end of last year

A Place to Bury Strangers are a band I discovered on one of my rare trips across London to the new Rough Trade shop off Brick Lane. I played the vinyl edition there of their self-titled debut album which impressed me enough to buy it. It so impressed me in fact that, if I had bought when it was released last December, it would have been in my best albums of the year list. A Place to Bury Strangers are New York-based, and are so they claim the loudest band in that city. They are Oliver Ackermann, J Space and Jono Mofo, and, based in Brooklyn, were previously called Skywave. 'A Place to Bury Strangers', which was recorded between 2003 and 2007, opens with 'Missing You' which runs at 100 miles an hour. It has waves of guitar feedback, fuzzy bass and rhythmic drums, and a vocal that from Oliver that sounds like the young Jim Reid in the early Jesus and Mary Chain or Jason Pierce in Spacemen 3. 'Don't Think Lover' has more 'Psychocandy' feedback, before it develops the same sort of vibe as My Bloody Valentine during their Creation era. Oliver's vocal here is more audible, and it has for much of it a 1990's indie sound, before returning towards the end to walls of feedback. As it moves towards its finish it sounds a little like the Raveonettes. 'To Fix the Gash in Your Head' agaiin sounds like the Jesus and Mary Chain.'The Falling Sun', while losing none of the previous tracks' loudness is, however, much slower, recalling Slowdive and Chapterhouse. 'Another Step Away' features another haunting Reid-style vocal from Oliver and has a slow build up before becoming furious and fiery. 'Breathe' is more furious still, recalling a moody Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and featuring a slow slurred vocal. 'I Know I'll See You' is completely different, recalling the Cure during their 'Faith' or 'Pornography' era. 'She Dies' is again reminiscent of the Cure, but this time more in the vein of '100 Years'. Oliver's vocal has the same doominess as Ian Curtis from Joy Division and there are layers of Slowdive-type guitars. 'My Weakness' finds A Place to Bury Strangers returning to their rock sound. It has a Black Rebel Motorcycle Club rolling feel but also again the essence of the Jesus and Mary Chain. 'Ocean' ends the album. It is much more Gothic in sound and is absolutely compelling. The guitar chimes away in the doomy way that the Cure have nailed so well. As it moves to its finish it becomes even louder and more furious before fading to a close. A brilliant album.

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