‘Absence’ is the new single from Danish post-rock/post-noise band Kúlu, and it is epic. To call this a single is to do it a disservice as, at 11 minutes and 41 seconds longs, it is longer than some album releases*.
The song builds from space sounds and drums into a calm indie pop song with some great clanging power chords but around 3 minutes in a wind blows through the track to reveal a beautiful rotating Spanish guitar part that lulls you into a gentle trance. However, the longer this floats on the more noise starts building in the background; the sense that something wicked this way is coming. Just over halfway through, the mantra “I wrap up your absence, so that I can breathe” is repeatedly sung before Kúlu bring the full force of a sound storm down on the track.
Kúlu have given us a full tasting menu in ‘Absence’, one that tells a satisfying musical story from indie start to brutal finish. If there was a ‘Prog-Noise’ category for music then ‘Absence’ would be its poster-child and I hope you will also give it the full 11 minutes and 42 seconds to ‘At Gå Agurk’, as the Danish say.
‘Absence’ is out on Celebration Records and you can also listen to the track and follow Kúlu on Spotify here.
Kúlu socials: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp
* Shortest albums: From my extensive 10 minute research I found the following: Bandit’s Self Inflicted (7 songs, 4m 9s), Emily Montes’ eponymous album (14 songs, 4m 41s), C0MPUTER’s How the Neobrutalists Won The West (7 songs, 7m 51s), Femme Fatale’s From the Abundance of the Heart, the Mouth Speaks (7 songs, 11m 40 s) and the what has been cited by Guinness World Records as the shortest album, a compilation put out by Earache Records which has thirteen tracks totalling 82.8 seconds (NB: I did find shorter albums but they’re not ‘official’ record holders). However Earache Records are not going to win a Grammy as they state an album must comprise a minimum total playing time of 15 minutes with at least five distinct tracks or a minimum total playing time of 30 minutes with no minimum track requirement. Spoil sports.
Review by Paul F Cook
Keep up to date with all new content on Joyzine via our
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Mailing List