UPRIGHT FORMS - Blurred Wires LP (colour vinyl)

Limited edition "Cirrostratus" colour vinyl.

Highly recommended.

Nick Sakes has been aggressively shouting and hammering out releases on Skin graft Records for over 30 years in a number of left of field heavy bands such as the prog-punk of Dazzling Killmen, the avant-rock of Colossamite and the No Wave duo Xaddax. Now he’s teamed up with bassist Noah Pastor and drummer Shaun Westphal under the moniker Upright Forms, Their debut album is Blurred Wires, and it is a distillation of all that has gone before, including, as Sakes says, ‘…anthemic, tug at your heartstrings kind of music.’

There are certainly enough tracks here to shout along to and throw yourself against a wall in lieu of slam dancing friends. My Lower Self has an urgent opening with aggressive noise that is overlade with snarling vocals that assault the ears, whilst They Kept On Living has short sharp vocal lines delivered like a blunt hammer, with a big shouty chorus, whilst Chopped Even and Biology Of Time are short, fast and brutal.

But there is more to this record than the fiery assaults. Opener, Heaven Knows, aligns melody with aggression and builds tension succinctly. Dive At Night, with its falling bass line and buzzing guitar, with a swirling second movement that is full of atmosphere can only be described as indie-pop, whilst Long Shadow is melodic with a 60s feel to it. Then there is the math-rock of Regular Multiplier, but the surprise delight is Animonsitine, which is a wonderful lo-fi post-punk song that channels Television Personalities.