Circuit Breaker: Cairn (Self-released, 2013)

December 7, 2013 at 10:35 pm | Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment

Circuit Breaker: Cairn

Recorded in an abandoned warehouse, this is a self-released CDR from a South London-based duo who seem to have a freeform, post-industrial junk-art collage aesthetic. Musically, they remind me of a less harsh Wolf Eyes with Robert Smith singing (or maybe even Scott Walker at times, but that’s more of a stretch). Lo-fi synth feedback, droning rhythms, somewhat overstated vocals. The songs are very disjointed, never coming close to proper song structure, but retaining a lo-fi indie-punk edge, while droning out and using elements of industrial noise. Which is why it’s so disconcerting how the vocals are so grand and bellowing, you usually expect some sort of lifeless zombie snarl accompanying something like this. “Sleep (Version 2)” has the straightest rhythm and guitar chords, coming closest to a regular song. “Panopticon” strikes a similar balance of straightforward rhythm, guitar chords and feedback noise. Shorter tracks have more of a fragmentary, stream-of-consciousness feel, especially with the lyrics. Available at Bandcamp.

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