Cove - Hi Watt

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 15 / 1 / 2005

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Review

What have I discovered in the four and a half years that I’ve been a Penny Black Music writer? Well, I’ve learned that there is a lot of great music out there that nobody ever writes about. I’ve also learned that there’s a lot of stuff that isn’t worth wasting your time over, but it’s the good bands that I remember. They play small venues, and sell the CDs themselves at the merch table afterwards. They are grateful if you want to chat to them about their band, and write about it later. They love what they do, and they do it even though they don’t make money from it. Cove are a post-rock band from Kent. They are a name that I’ve known for a while, and I’m pretty sure some compilation tracks have surfaced in that time. But this is the first Cove release I’ve heard properly. They play instrumental post-rock, the sort that makes you nod your head and listen closer, not the sort that makes you thing, ‘oooh, that’s pretty’. Cove’s music is bafflingly enjoyable. It has no vocals, apart from an occasional exception where some light and insubstantial vocal lines appear towards the end of the album, and the band themselves have little about them that truly sounds extraordinary at first. But what they do have is the sound of a band that wants to make good music, who want to make music that reflects who they are as a band. Cove are neither interested in making music that appeals to the listener’s base instinct for a hummable melody, but doesn’t drift into aimless noise or experimentation, just because it can drift into aimless noise or experimentation. This is just a fun record to listen to; it’s loud and it draws you in. Cove are a band that I listen to, enjoy a lot, and wonder why I don’t see their name in the press and their records in the high street. It is for bands like Cove that I enjoy this reviewing gig! Cove come from near my hometown. They have ideas and they play cool music. They deserve to have more fans, and I’m writing this in the hope that some of you will give them a try.

Track Listing:-

1 Spelling Bee Champion
2 Farewell, I Am Mapped Out
3 Untitled
4 Autumn Leaves Turn From The Dresses Of The Vampire Girls
5 Thelonious Monk Vs Melodious Funk
6 Centralville
7 Mainland