Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Sombre - Lesser

4/22/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
Sombre

Lesser
self-released; 2016

​3.9 out of 5

By J Simpson

Punk rock was originally shorthand for quick, fast, dirty rock n’ roll or whatever anybody could make, before it got taken over as another fascist fashion statement. Anything without a leather jacket or liberty spikes was gobbled up liberally by punk poseurs who never bothered to learn the roots of their own tradition, and the seemingly vast, endless possibilities of punk rock dwindled down to a dribble.

With the endless availability of cheap music gear and recording equipment, this punk primacy is finally starting to bleed and blend into other styles - in the case of Truro, UK's Sombre, psychedelic rock.

There's been a rising tide of interesting psychedelic rock so far this century with bands like Ty Segall, The War On Drugs, Mac De Marco, et al. redefining what we can do with phasers and flange. It's, quite simply, stoner jams for a different kind of stoner, one that maybe holds down a job or goes on vacation. Instead of "psychedelic rock" being used as a mock-up paisley faux-light show, like psych retronauts have done for years, instead they blend psychedelia's vibrant magentas and cyans with punk's energy and don't-give-a-toss attitude.

Lesser was recorded in a small, soggy apartment, over the span of ten days, as practically an example of how a record should never be made. There was no control booth, no mic stands, no power cleaner. Hell, even the songs weren't finished! Instead, Sombre's Theo Dorian set out only to write and record a song a day, as a means to get something done and finished.

Dorian must have golden ears, if this is what he turns out in less than two weeks. Lesser doesn't sound nearly as hissy or fizzy as you would expect from the rudimentary gear and fast production schedule. Lesser is actually surprisingly clean, which lets Dorian's keen melodic sensibilities shine through. Verses are punctuated with wobbly flanged guitar - the perfect blend of psychedelia, punk rock and pop, as explored by the likes of Television or the early romantic post-punk of Felt.

The poppiness makes punk's in-your-face intensity a little easier to relate to, being slightly tempered instead of screaming in your ear. Likewise, the pop and punk update psychedelia into being something new and vital, instead of some faux-vintage time trip.

For anyone that likes (and misses), the whip-smart slack cynicism of late '90s Indie rock bands like Modest Mouse or Pavement, you'll dig the hell out of Sombre, as well as purveyors of new wave psychedelia like Ty Segall, Connan Mockasin or Mac De Marco.

​If someone can make a record this good, this fast, the majors better be worried! Time to step up your game, Warner!
Tweet
1 Comment
chase
4/25/2016 09:16:50 am

Nice - nice

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band
© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact