Riding an ever-surmounting deluge of local NYC hype from the likes of The Village Voice and Time Out New York (of which they even garnished the cover) is quartet Ashford Breaks with the release their debut EP Traitor. AB, you see, has earned the reputation as one of the Big Apple’s best rock acts, despite the fact that they have minimal recorded output; Thus, making this four song unveiling a highly anticipated affair.
Ashford Breaks, which consists of Lawrence Kim- guitar, vocals /Oliver Sharpe- guitar, vocals/ Aileen B. bass and David Silva drums, teased their fans a few months back when they posted the atmospheric-“High and Low” on their My Space page, which sounded like the single Jesus And Mary Chain did not make, in-between Honey’s Dead and Stoned and Dethroned. Drenched in delicately distorted fuzz, with Kim’s serene harmonies about wandering desperation, this track was an impressive introduction that left everyone licking their chops for what was next.
Those individuals who were expecting more of the same, sugary, ethereal sounds from this debut EP could not be more wrong; check those preconceptions at the door my friend, and get ready for some brash proto-punk, rock ‘n roll good times, circa 1977. (Don’t despair though; the rousing “High and Low” is included for your listening pleasure). Forget about the My Bloody Valentine showgazing, this Ashford Breaks is more about the pill-popping wild times of Manhattan, ala Jim Carroll and Television.
Lead track “Exposure” starts of with a whaling, near minute of instrumentals, where all four band members concoct a thumping, steady, prelude to the freewheeling, raucous vibe that will follow. That structured intro is unexpectedly interrupted by Kim’s quirky, exaggerated vocals. Sounding like a mixture of Fred Schneider (B52’s) and Stephen Malkmus (Pavement), it’s easy to draw comparisons to off beat art- schoolers, Stellastarr*. Second track “Clockwork” has the same corky post- punk, Wire aesthetic, only with considerably more wallop.
Lo-Fi final track “traitor/down/traitor” is the true gem on this effort. Gone are the overstated vocals of the first two tracks. They are replaced with much more sincere and focused harmonies about an overindulgent back-stabber and an epic, (although sometimes repetitive) guitar riff, that has the potential to bust out those headphone speakers and cause some permanent damage (if you are not careful.) Even the instrumental interlude, which accounts for the “down” part of the “traitor/down/traitor” works successfully as a juxtaposition in the middle of the tune and adds that much more dramatic effect, once the thumping guitar picks up again.
It’s hard to tell which direction Ashford Breaks will take from this initial offering. The talented instrumentation and immense potential that has earned AB the write up’s, are clearly heard. I just hope that the rest of AB’s releases will sound more like the stirring last half of the “traitor” and less like the theatrical, Big Star style covers of the first half. Remember the red pills are always uppers! |