Albatros - Futile Review + Youtube Album Stream

Labels: Le Mort Records/Dingleberry Records/Zilpzalp Records/Les Disques Rabat-Joie/No Funeral Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 20 June 2019

Tracklist:

1. Keasbey Nights III

2. King Kong and the Pogo Loco

3. Dusted with the Musket

4. Towering Terreur

5. Albo-Club 5 (Aller du Dépanneur)

6. Albo-Club 3 (Ditch the Snitch)

7. Y'a Faite Crotteau

8. (C'est qui ca?) Studge

9. Invincible 'till Death

10. La Crepine

Ever since I reviewed Albatros's split tape with TDOAFS, I've not been able to get enough of their unique brand of punk/hardcore. I think it was the brass that did it but these French Canadians really seemed to be doing something different and fun with their music and when I learnt about their latest album "Futile", I knew it'd be good. I've listened to it more than a few times since it's release in late June and have finally got around to writing about. It was released on vinyl and tape (via the labels listed above) and also digitally by the band themselves.

There’s something about the violent opening bars of Keasbey Nights III. The mix of blistering hardcore/off-kilter punk and the soothing nature of the brass makes it so addictive. It’s not cheesy like (some) ska, which helps. Not all songs on “Futile” are that heavy though and the amusingly titled King Kong and the Pogo Loco begins with completely the opposite vibe, before being thrust back into the hardcore fire. You get a sense of Mardi Gras during Dusted With The Musket, which is filled with chaotic urgency and catchy melody once again due to the brass that’s given space to breath on the recording. The recording actually captures the organic nature of Albatros really well and “Futile” is much more honest because of it. Towering Terreur is a heady mix of crazed punk with the odd rock element thrown in thanks to the riffs in part. 

There’s no time for hanging about on “Futile” either as Albatros leave only breaths between songs and those breaths are taken away with Albo-Club 5 (Aller Au Depanneur), which contains some of the fastest and noisiest drumming on the entire record. You’re smacked full-on in the chops by the throaty screams on Albo-Club 3 (Ditch The Snitch). In between the ferocity though, they do see fit to add in some really nice instrumental passages that break things up and make it even more listenable. As they progress through the record, they allow their songs to become lengthier. Y’a Faite Crotteau is by no means mid-paced but it’s got heaps of atmosphere, changing time-signatures and textures that will take you days or weeks to get your head round. (Ces’t Qui Ca?) Studge pretty much sums up why I like this band so much. Just listen to that intro section and you’ll understand why! The rest of song ain’t bad either!

The closing duo come around far too quickly and penultimate song Invincible ‘Till Death has an incredibly raw feel to it at times. That’s not doing it a disservice though as there’s still so many nuances to get stuck into. Rhythmically, they don’t stay in one place for long but it’s worth it. The longest number is left till last and Le Crepine is that crazy mix of grinding and intense hardcore mixed with unnerving metallic flourishes and the odd breakdown, that’s more emo than angry. Everything comes together in an obvious way and when they quieten down only to build up again after the two-minute mark, the peak Is reached and while it doesn’t fully spill over, things get very close. Abruptly, you’re left with silence but also the sense that you’ve listened to something that will stay with you forever.

Trying to describe music can never come close to actually becoming immersed in it. Do yourselves a favour and immerse yourselves in “Futile”.

You can stream and purchase "Futile" on vinyl and digitally below:-

Albatros - https://www.facebook.com/albatrosqc/

You can also buy physical copies from the labels below:-

Le Mort Records - https://www.facebook.com/lemortisdead/

Dingleberry Records - https://www.facebook.com/Dingleberry-records-and-distribution

Zilpzalp Records - https://www.facebook.com/zilpzalprecords/

Les Disques Rabat-Joie - https://www.facebook.com/lesdisquesrabatjoie/

No Funeral Records - http://nofuneral.storenvy.com/products//https://www.facebook.com/nofuneral8/

Also, if that wasn't enough I've been given very special permission by the band to stream the entire album via my YouTube channel. Please give it listen here as well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKwQGV3DmpU.

TDOAFS/Albatros - Split

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/