Labels: Larry Records/No Funeral Records (Tape)/ L'Oeil Du Tigre/Don't Live Like Me Records/Black Lake Records/Dingleberry Records/Le Mort Records (Vinyl)
Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital
Release Date: 21 Nov 2016 (Vinyl Digital)/01 Apr 2019 (Tape)
Tracklist:
1. TDOAFS - Blank Paper
2. TDOAFS - The Whole World In My Hand
3. TDOAFS - Peaceful
4. TDOAFS - Face The Sun
5. Albatros - Vucules
6. Albatros - La Happy
7. Albatros - Clotaire Rapaille
8. Albatros - Le Split Rancid-NOFX
I wanna start this review with some advice for people reading that want to start a blog or site (because let's face it, nobody reads by opening ramblings!). Apart from the fact that you totally should do it, just remember that if you get enough people visiting it and people start sending you stuff, it's gonna become ALL CONSUMING!. This isn't a negative ramble, far from it. When I started down this rabbit hole over eight years ago, I didn't ever foresee my blog becoming anything that people would pay attention too, let alone write to asking for review etc. I couldn't be without it now, which is why posts like this mean so much to me. The fact that Mr Jablon cared enough to ask me to write some words about some of his release (let alone send me some!) make me happy.
Anyway, pointless rambles aside, this is the 2019 tape release of the split 10" that was released back in 2016 via all of the above labels (minus Larry Records). Larry released an extremely limited run of tape copies, that are now sold out, alongside No Funeral Records who made their own small run too. It features Canadian trio The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch (TDOAFS) and their countrymen Albatros. This is a mix of screamo/post-hardcore and punk.
This split contains four songs from both bands, beginning with TDOAFS.This is incredibly tuneful post-hardcore with vocals that sit buried within the music. Opener Blank Paper is a mix of upbeat melodic instrumentation and heavier passages, that are mainly guitar driven. It’s really creative and provides a different take on a sub-genre that’s growing exponentially within the underground at the moment. The Whole World In My Hand is more punk-influenced in parts, but TDOAFS retain their subtle aggressiveness too.
Their songs are focused and the volume this trio produces is greater than expected. It all sounds very organic (it sounds like it was recorded live in it’s entirety). Carrying on the upbeat nature of their songs, Peaceful is anything but. It’s more angular this time and also there’s extra experimentation thrown in to the mix. It ends abruptly but that’s alright, as it keeps the momentum high going into last song Face The Sun. It’s another big song with a cathartic and almost euphoric feel to it, even when things take an introspective turn mid-way through.
I favour the “live reviewing” approach when writing, which means I like to let the music play as I write (usually on first listen too), which sometimes can be difficult if songs go by to quickly. Albatros’s Vucules is one such song, which flies by with a mix of fast hardcore and brass. It’s a strange mix but one that works superbly well. I’ve not heard a band like this ever I don’t think. I’ve heard bands that use clean singing and brass, but not harsh vocals. It gives La Happy a strange contrasting emotion that switches between darkness and light. They are French Canadian though, so it makes sense.
Clotaire Rapaille carries on in the same vein and in no less entertaining because of it. It’s such a listenable formula that its hard to turn it off. The final song is called Le Split Rancid-NOFX and I’m not really sure what to expect. Albatros could be doing a medley of songs by both bands here, but doubt it. Either way, it’s a great way to end their side and indeed this split. This is such a unique and truly enjoyable split. If you’re a fan of post-hardcore then you’ll likely already be aware of TDOAFS obvious quality, but when you add in the originality of Albatros, you’ll be doubly impressed. If this was the first release of this split, it would be my favourite so far this year hands down. As it is, it’s still up there.
You can stream the full split via the TDOAFS bandcamp page below:-
Albatros have their side streaming below too, where you can also buy it digitally and on vinyl directly from them:-
TDOAFS - https://www.facebook.com/Tdoafs
Albatros - https://www.facebook.com/albatrosqc/
Tape copies are sold out from Larry Records but you still find copies via No Funeral Records here - https://nofuneral.storenvy.com/
10" vinyl copies are still available via the below stores:-
Black Lake Records - http://blacklakerecords.bigcartel.com/product/bl029-albatros-tdoafs-split-10
Le Mort Records - http://lemortrecords.blogspot.com/p/distro.html
L'Oeil Du Tigre (now ODT Records) - https://www.facebook.com/loeildutigre/
Don't Live Like Me Records - https://www.facebook.com/dontlivelikeme/
Black Lake Records - https://www.facebook.com/blacklakerecords/
Dingleberry Records & Distribution - https://www.facebook.com/Dingleberry-records-and-distribution
Le Mort Records - https://www.facebook.com/lemortisdead/
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