If any readers are still reeling from the Girls In Synthesis break-up then The None might help ease the pain of withdrawal. This is a band with pedigree comprising bassist Gordon Moakes (Bloc Party, Young Legionnaire), vocalist Kai Whyte (Blue Ruth, Youth Man), guitarist Jim Beck (Cassels) and drummer Chris Francombe (Frauds).
CARE is an EP of clanging, splashing, and crashing like a musical demolition derby or a soundtrack for a fairground in a fever dream. This has the angular sparseness of Gang of Four with the fire of Killing Joke. Subterranean bass pulsates with atonal guitar notes that shatter like glass as chords warp and shudder like bridge cables in an earthquake.
The band have a formidable live reputation (see dates below) and the recent months spent playing gigs gave them the confidence and impetus to capture these songs in the studio with ‘amps blaring, no click track, and minimal overdubs’. Guitarist Jim says, “I think we’d only done around three or four practices with Kai [vocals] when we recorded the first EP. It was pretty seat-of-the-pants stuff. This time we had a much clearer idea of who we are as a band, and how we wanted everything to sound.”
This approach to recording has helped produce an EP that captures lightning in a bottle. The clean energy of the band’s debut EP MATTER has been scuffed up on CARE to make it raw and lean but under control enough to not make you think the reactor will melt down.
The None socials: Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | YouTube
ON TOUR:
15 FEB 25 / Where Else?, Margate / TICKETS
16 FEB 25 / Prince Albert, Brighton / TICKETS
18 FEB 25 / YES (Basement), Manchester / TICKETS
19 FEB 25 / Brudenell Social Club, Leeds / TICKETS
20 FEB 25 / The Hug & Pint, Glasgow / TICKETS
21 FEB 25 / Zerox, Newcastle / TICKETS
22 FEB 25 / Oh, Community! Festival, The Bullingdon, Oxford / TICKETS
29 MAR 25 / Oslo, London / TICKETS
03 MAY 25 / Wanderlust Festival, Southampton / TICKETS
04 MAY 25 / Sounds from the Other City Festival, Salford / TICKETS
14 JUN 25 / Brighten the Corners Festival, Ipswich / TICKETS
24 MAY 25 / Portals Festival, EartH, London / TICKETS
25 MAY 25 / Bearded Theory Festival, Catton Park, Derbyshire / TICKETS
25 JUL 25 / Deer Shed Festival, Thirsk, Yorkshire / TICKETS
Review by Paul F Cook
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