topographies : "Interior Spring"

 This Bay Area band features Gray Tolhurst, the son of Lol Tolhurst. So there is a Cure influence to their post-punk sound, which is highly atmospheric and melodic. It is like a less intense version of the Twilight Sad, who seems to be the Cure's mainstay opening band. While the second song does not veer much from what was established in the first track, things do get darker on "Cleanse". Sure there is more of a Cure vibe thanks to this fact, though some of that lies in how the vocals are delivered with more of a longing pout. Lyrically the album is supposed to be about Tolhurst's battle with addiction, but it sounds like sad boy songs thus far. 

They are not breaking any new ground on "Chain of Days" What makes it stand out is the very 80s-minded drum programming. They have certainly captured the sound they are going for, now I would like to hear them build more off of that. They feel more like a Los Angeles band than a San Francisco band at this point in the album. During "I Have Never Understood" the song's pulse drifts off and the next thing I know it's faded into the background and we are three songs deeper into the album. While it does mean this album carries a hypnotic grace, it also means the songs all sound the same and are often hard to tell apart if not paying close attention. The choruses could pop more and have sharper hooks to keep your attention

I had to step away from the album and return to it later at night in order to hear it with fresh ears that picked up on the more driving bass of the title track to help. differentiate the songs. I sounds better than when the songs faded into one another earlier in the day, but is not blowing me away either. In fact, the worship of his father's shadow is more recognizable. 'Tied' finds them mired back down into their own status quo, not an ineffective song, just too much like the previous songs, the biggest success seems to be more focused vocals driving the verses of "1959" which bleeds into a better chorus, making this the album's best song. So they are capable, but not consistent. They lay onto the synths of "Red Black Sun' which takes things in a more modern dark wave direction. The vocals have an honest passion to them, though they do not form the connection that sticks with you. Lyrically this might be the strongest song, as it explores shameful parts of himself. 

The last song finds the ambient guitar ringing out with a great tone, but reluctant to offer much form or function to the sounds summoned here. The vocals are back to their normal lamentations. The chorus does not really exist, and while I am not a slave to songs having to establish a formula, they need to go somewhere and not just drift without a destination in mind. Once again this brings us back to creating a sound vs writing a song. I will give this album an 8,5 as they take these sounds as far as they can go and ride them in a mesmerizing manner, that is easy to listen to even if it sounds all too familiar. Released by Dark Entries. 

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Gothtober - Flesh World : " Into the Shroud"

I once swore of Siouxsie tribute bands as the influx of them at one point was becoming unbearable. This band from San Francisco at least cashes in on less explored sides of Siouxsie. The mix is somewhat 80's punk lo-fi, but allows for some atmosphere.  The title track as not as compelling as the opener as it goes by in a quirky indie blur. The chorus to "Knock to Answer" also falls a little flat though the guitars do some interesting things in the background. The could have stood to have been dialed up in the mix. "To Hell With Your Purity" has more of a punk attitude to it. I like the lyrics better to this one. The punk thing continues on "Problem With the Youth Bulge". While their is a good dose of indie rock indifference to their sound and the vocal delivery, it would be more fitting to say these guys are moody rather than dark. They are dark enough to fall into the post-punk genre, though not death rock at all.

"Tell Me I'm In Exhale" took a couple of listens to grow on me.Its more on the indie rock side. I am not sure why these kids are being called dream pop as this song is almost more like Hole. There is strummed guitar on the 90's like alt-pop of "Ship Him To Shanghi" which sounds like some of the Cure's poppier moments. The album closes with "This Great Cheap Face". This one is at more of a post-punk pace. The vocals don't really do much for me on this song, though once again the guitars are pretty cool yet too far back in the mix. Live these guys would probably be really good as the vocals would fall back behind the guitars.I can hear the Siouxsie influence again on this one. You know I have to be careful what I ask for as not enough Siouxsie finds it falling more into indie rock blandness .


 As far as indie rock goes they are dark and moody enough for me to stomach it. Though they are far from being among the darkest of the bands I have covered this month and work more off of their odd quirk.They have potential if they would give into their dark side and mix the guitars up louder. I'll give this album a 7.5. It was released on Dark Entries a record label that has an interesting roster than goes from indie rock like this to edm from France.