Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh - You'll Despise Yourself

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 30 May 2017

Tracklist:

1. Untitled

2. I Hate Your Lifestyle

3. More Than One Hour

4. Possession

5. Two-Tone Snakeskin Boots With Rolled Sleeves

6. Crush On You

7. I'll Ask Her

8. I Listen To A Park Jefferson Song And Go To Bed

9. Even Then You're Weak

Back again with another (and long-awaited, by me at least!) Polar Summer roster review. I sometimes  obsess over specific labels and having collected some of Polar Summer's releases already, I chose to delve into their catalogue. I'm still looking to build up and maybe complete the collection one day but for now digital streams will do.

Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh are (or were) an interesting band. From Kazan in Russia, they played emoviolence and had two releases in 2017 that were three months apart, if that!. The first was their self-titled album in January, which was released via Canadian label Le Blast Records and the second was this album in March, which featured some of the tracks from that S/T album and was released on tape by Polar Summer from Russia. That's all the info I have on them!

It’s very warm here this evening. We’re not used to it in the UK, as I’m sure I’ve said before. As I write this review, I’m melting and I like the heat! The emoviolence of Russian band Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh isn’t going to help me cool down so I might as well dive right in. ‘Untitled’ opens the album in a gentle fashion. It’s instrumentation is calming, though there’s a subtle rawness to it as well. It’s a hint at what’s to come maybe. ‘I Hate Your Lifestyle’ is where the band explodes. My first reaction was that the song-titled was a jab at Swedish emo band I Love Your Lifestyle, but I can’t conceive a reason why that would be.

What I can conceive though is just how raw and emotive things get on ‘I Hate Your Lifestyle’. It barely lasts over fifty seconds yet it’s authentic rawness and it’s caustic vocals show exactly what Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh are/were about. From here on in I’m going to refer to them as Jackie, Oh for ease. I think people who love acts like The Body will really like this album, especially thanks to the high-pitched vocals. ‘More Than One Hour’ proves exactly why, while also delivering percussion and guitar work that sounds engrossing and uplifting even.

Just like ‘I Hate Your Lifestyle’, ‘Possession’ is another sub one-minute blast of intensity. The vocals are buried further in the mix here as the instrumentation towers over them somewhat, but in doing so it takes away some of the caustic feel. ’Two-Tone Snakeskin Boots With Rolled Sleeves’ explodes after a brief period of slow guitar, only to fall away again thirty-seconds later as Jackie, Oh drop into more of an emo stance with gentler instrumentation and grungier shouts towards the end. Proving that feedback is a key staple of every emoviolence song, Jacki, Oh go a bit more artsy during’ Crush On You’. There’s something about it that comes across differently. I think it’s the tempos they use 

Rolling instantly into ‘I’ll Ask Her’, that artsy flair comes out even more in the riffs along with the switch in pace and mood mid-way through. The way the cleaner guitars and drumming sit alongside the piercing vocals shouldn’t work but does. ‘I Listen To A Park Jefferson Song And Go Back To Bed’ leans more towards hardcore and is very much darker in tone. It’s probably my favourite song on You’ll Despise Yourself. Jackie, Oh close out with ‘Even Then You’re Weak’ and they channel the inner emo band once again, punctuating the violence and creating the best of both worlds.

In a music community where short-lived bands are the norm, I can’t think of many whose life was as brief as Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh’s was. Two releases in three months was impressive output though and with them still being available to listen too, what is there to loose. Now, what do I have to do to get my hands on tape copies!

As I mentioned above, their S/T release and this one are still available to stream and purchase as name-your-price downloads via their bandcamp page below:-

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

Кальк (Kalk) - Кальк (Kalk)

Labels: Hardcore For The Losers/JanML Records/Maya Von Lobeck/MarderschadenDIY/Polar Summer/Tadzio Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 09 Mar 2017

Tracklist:

1. Напалм

2. Черный Пес, Темный Лес

3. Привет, Героиня

4. Панк-рок Еще Дышит

5. Пыльная Звезда

6. Шлюха Из Бутово

7. Завтра Было Вчера

8. Метаморфоза

9. Зефир

10. В Радуге Столько Красивых Цветов, А Ты Выбираешь Говно

11. Отпуск В Панаме

It's taken what seems like an age but I'm revisiting my Polar Summer review series again. The Russian label has released (and continues to release) music by many obscure but exciting bands from across Europe and further afield. I'm trying to these reviews in order of release and this evening I've focusing on the label's 11th, which was the self-titled album from Germany's self-proclaimed feminist synthie screamo punks Кальк (Kalk). Their name nor their song-titles are in German and I wouldn't like to guess where they're from. This album came out in March 2017.

I own a copy of Кальк’s 2020 follow-up to this record, which is how I first heard them. Going back to their first album is a treat and opener ‘Напалм’ definitely sits in the punkier/noisier screamo camp, where simple and very effective percussion is joined by low bass/guitar riffs, really pissed off vocals and synths that completely change the tone of their sound, in a really unexpected way. They’re use is upbeat and they really fit with the music.

Кальк’’s songs aren’t long here and ‘Черный Пес, Темный Лес’ flies by in a wall of melody and rabid emoviolence, which in turn is drenched in feedback. I was in need of a midweek pick-me-up and man have I found it. ‘Привет, Героиня’ goes properly hard right from the off. The way everything is layered, especially with the addition of the synths keeps it from sounding disjointed or cheesy. I sometimes wince when I read about or listen to bands that use synths in their music but I can get behind their use here.

My fixation with the “s” word stops now, as ‘Панк-рок Еще Дышит’ starts with some warningly familiar melodic guitar before Кальк up the ante. They may not be spitting razors or blasting their way through this album but sometimes it’s better when a band does their own thing. This is unique. There’s a slight mid-tempo feel to ‘Пыльная Звезда’ yet that’s probably due to the punk vibe that flows through it. 

Before what seems like a blink of the eye, it’s onto the album’s second half and the sub one-minute song ‘Шлюха Из Бутово’, which is amongst it’s fastest and heaviest. It leads into ‘Завтра Было Вчера’ pretty much instantly and the mood shifts again, as even with the slightly jovial synths, the undertones are more unnerving. 

That said, the digital-esque opening salvo on ‘Метаморфоза’ continues throughout it’s entirety, allowing some light to permeate through the intensity that governs much of this release. ‘Зефир’ pokes hilarious fun at traditional matrimony and even includes some semi-clean vocals! I’m all for digs at society’s conservative/religious populous, so this song made me smile.

Penultimate number ‘В Радуге Столько Красивых Цветов, А Ты Выбираешь Говно’ drags everything back in a more furious direction. The occasionally chunkier riffs work great alongside the stomping tempos/drumming towards the end. Ending with ‘Отпуск В Панаме’, Кальк go from gentle guitar to pure post-hardcore brilliance in a split second and round out their self-titled record in epic form. 

People are often too scared to approach a band or a record that’s new to them. While Кальк are not new to me, their debut LP was. I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t be afraid and that you should embrace that which you have not heard before. This album was released over eight years ago now but it still leaves an indelible mark. All I ask is that you give it a go.

You can stream and purchase the album both digitally, and (still!) on vinyl via Кальк's bandcamp page below:-

Кальк - https://www.facebook.com/kalknoise

Copies can also be purchased from the labels below:-

Hardcore For The Losers - https://hardcoreforthelosers.bandcamp.com/merch

MarderschadenDIY - https://marderschadendiy.tumblr.com/

Hardcore For The Losers - https://www.facebook.com/HardcoreForTheLosers

JanML Records - https://www.facebook.com/JanmlRecords

MarderschadenDIY - https://www.facebook.com/marderschadenDIY

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

Tadzio Records - https://www.facebook.com/tadziorecords/

It's More Like A Message To You - Live Demo'10

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 23 Feb 2017

Tracklist:

1. Кто Тебе Сказал?

2. Наши Имена

3. Фантомы Свободы

I'm trying to use the remainder of 2024 to get through my planned review schedule, as I want to try something a little different come the New Year (though it won't greatly different as that would be a logistical nightmare probably!). I've also got another sweet double song premiere on the way, but more on that later.

Tonight I'm dropping back into my (somewhat) slow going deep-dive into the roster of Russian label Polar Summer because I love em and I'm stubborn. It's More Like A Message To You were a short-live emoviolence band whom released this live demo in 2017 (which, was originally recorded in 2010) and an earlier split with fellow Russian emoviolence band Aspergers in 2013. A couple of things to note about them is that their name is taken from the title of a song by Jeromes Dream and that they went on form Buran, and Ensslin (whom I've featured here before).

This live demo contains just three tracks and according to the Internet, makes up the last available recordings from It’s More Like A Message To You. All three are in Russian and I’m not going to attempt to translate them. Opener ‘Кто Тебе Сказал?’ is definitely fitting of the bands that influenced them and the bands they went on to form, even at it’s absolute rawest. From melodically beautiful, to rabidly intense and back again in less than two minutes. 

‘Наши Имена’ epitomises the strength and emotion that can come through on live recordings, with it’s rousing build-up, harsh screams and insanely good percussion. The vocal/drum fusion does drown out the guitars slightly but this is a DIY live take, so it’s to be expected.

Demo closer ‘Фантомы Свободы’ is also it’s most furious, as ringing feedback gives way to instant emoviolence and dramatic instrumentation that explodes even further when the vocals kick in. Angular, imposing and life-affirming all in one. I know this release won’t be for everyone; even some regular readers might shy away from it but give it chance.

Another snapshot in time of a band that was born, shone brightly and then died just like the stars above our heads.

Tape copies are long sold out from Polar Summer but you can grab the demo as a name-your-price download from the band below:-

It's also available digitally for a super cheap price from Polar Summer below:-

Polar Summer Records - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

Салют! - Салют!

Labels: Self-ReleasedPolar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 12 Nov 2015

Tracklist:

1. Вперёд И Вверх

2. Остов

3. Шхуне И Бродягам

4. Осень

5. И Кончен Бал

6. Отражение

7. Туман

Салют! or Salute! was a very short lived screamo band from Kyiv, Ukraine. Their self-titled album was released digitally in November 2015 before being released on tape by Russian label Polar Summer just over a year later. Their name is an 'exclamation used to express friendly feelings towards one's companions before drinking'. That, as well as the bright colours used in the cover-art resonate so much right now.

Delving into Polar Summer’s back catalogue has been such an honour so far and hearing this release is no different as ‘Вперёд И Вверх’ provides such a lovely melodic emo/screamo opener. It’s very upbeat while also being cathartic. I stopped short of using the ‘emo-v’ tag here for obvious reasons. ‘Остов’ is an equally beautiful song with very thoughtful instrumentation, song-writing and vocal phrasing (even if I don’t understand Ukrainian!). Sometimes it sounds like it has a punk influence but that’s only fleeting, as it’s much more heartfelt overall.

Salute!’s emo-filled approach breaks new ground on ‘Шхуне И Бродягам’ as it’s joined by a heavier, more abrasive side. That heavier side doesn’t last too long before they retreat into a gentler mid-section that reminds me a lot of German band Duct Hearts. In typical fashion though (as I write this), the final bars do a 180 degree turn back towards that earlier mentioned heaviness. ’Осень’ makes me ponder what would have happened if Salute! had produced more than just this one recording. Back in 2015 they already exhibited how talented they were. If they had stuck it out for a bit longer I think they would have been very popular, even with listeners outside of their sub-genre. 

Of course making a statement like I just did has it’s flaws and those flaws are exposed as the dissonance of ‘И Кончен Бал’ takes over the speakers. I do love dissonance (otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this blog) but I also love melody, which Salute! have in abundance here. Penultimate song ‘Отражение’ captivates and encapsulates everything that makes this album so good. The expressive and free nature of the music really comes alive during this, it’s longest song. Even as it descends into an amalgam of noise and spoken-word samples, it leaves you transfixed.

Rounding out their self-titled album with the glorious ‘Туман’, they bring to mind many US/UK emo bands yet they exude so much of their own personality that it’s criminal to compare. Salute! have left me truly stunned and I’m sure they’ll do the same to you too. So many bands fall under the radar nowadays, especially those who have merely one demo, EP or album. While physical tape copies are pretty much impossible to obtain now, at least this album is still available digitally (until somebody, hopefully represses it).

You can stream and purchase both the original and remastered versions of this album digitally below:-

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

Икар - \\\\\\

Labels: Self-Released/Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 24 Jun 2016

Tracklist:

1. Рождение Трагедий

2. Нашему Несчастью

3. Ветра Потерь

4. Он Звал, А Мы Стояли На Месте

5. Ревущие Деревья Ждут, Когда Мы Вернемся

6. Последняя

They say that a change is as good as a rest and this week has proven that to be true. So much so that I'm full of energy again and my head is surprisingly clear. To celebrate, I thought I'd indulge in some obscure Belarussian emo in the form of Икар. Their only album \\\\\\ was released in 2016 via Polar Summer on a pressing of 30 tapes, while the band also self-released it digitally. Oddly, the Polar Summer release contained thirteen songs (according to their bandcamp page), seven of which are not available to stream or download digitally. There must be a reason why so if anybody knows. please drop me a line.

I started a new job this week, which is the reason for my sudden burst of energy/excitement. Belarussian band Икар was another name that Polar Summer shed light on from Eastern Europe and on album opener ‘Рождение Трагедий’ it’s obvious why. Their explosive screamo/emo-violence hits with such immediacy that it’s hard to appreciate the musicality right away. Икар manages to weave a ton of melody and even rousing gang vocals into the mix later on for good measure. 

‘Нашему Несчастью’ is a super short follow-up to what was a very expansive opener. Less than forty seconds of intense percussion and rabid screaming, punctuated by guitar work that’s strong and quite technical as well. I’ll apologise now for not attempting to translate the song titles here (mainly because Google Translate cannot be trusted to translate things correctly). ‘Ветра Потерь’ follows with a slightly more brooding atmosphere although ultimately chaos ensues once again for about sixty seconds, ending with a thirty-ish second passage of introspection from Икар.

As has been the case so far for the majority of this album (or EP depending on how you interpret it), those songs bookended by the opener and closer have proven to be more urgent in delivery. That’s definitely the case with ‘Он Звал, А Мы Стояли На Месте’, which is a bizarre mix of off-kilter instrumentation and throat-scraping vocals. It’s only really bizarre because the instrumentation could sit more comfortably in the art-rock/art-punk scene.

Penultimate song ‘Ревущие Деревья Ждут, Когда Мы Вернемся’ goes for the jugular again right from the off, except this time Икар’s emoviolence is punctuated by brilliantly delivered math-rock. It leads to the other bookend I was talking about earlier, ’Последняя’. It’s the longest song on the album and it starts off pensively before growing in heaviness very quickly. It stays on that trajectory until the final moments where it’s stripped back to sensitive guitar and spoken word.

It would have been great to have heard the other seven tracks that formed part of the tape release but even without them, this has been a joy to listen to. Икар really harnessed such an honest sound. Polar Summer helped to bring that sound to more ears with their tape release and honestly, they still deserve more attention now. 

You can stream and download these songs for free via Икар's bandcamp page below:-

Tape copies from Polar Summer are long sold out.

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com/music

Tarkovsky - Умер

Labels: Polar Summer/Red Truth Productions

Formats: CDr/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 29 Dec 2016

Tracklist:

1. Хаос

2. Гаррота

3. Котлован

4. Орлок

5. Мизери

6. Прощай, Оружие!

It's been quite sometime since my last Polar Summer related review. I don't know why because the previous four write-ups have been really popular. I first discovered the Russian emoviolence band Tarkovsky through an order I placed with Dingleberry Records via Discogs. While I was browsing I noticed Dingleberry had a number of Polar Summer releases for sale, including a CDr copy of Умер. This EP was released in late 2016 and was followed up by an early 2017 tape release via Kazakhstani label Red Truth Productions. It marks the last Tarkovsky release to date.

I haven’t published many reviews of late yet the blog seems to be reaching more people than ever (maybe that’s the key). Whatever the true reason, I’ve more than grateful for the attention and am going to press on. Tarkovsky’s opener ‘Хаос’ is a space-age inspired introduction filled with noise, atmospheric beats/effects and Russian spoken-word samples. It builds suspense, leading into ‘Гаррота’, which is a raw slab of melodic emoviolence. At times the riffs are repetitive but they fit perfectly.

‘Котлован’ is a moody, dissonant song that elevates Tarkovsky’s violent beauty to greater heights. I don’t know what more to say about it. ‘Орлок’ is equally as short as it’s predecessor, though that only really equates to it being heavier in all departments. Even when the closing few bars give way to subtle post-hardcore/metal textures, there’s still no escape.

Penultimate song ‘Мизери’ hits hard initially and reminds of how tired I feel. It’s a banger all the same and it’s intensity matches the sporadic nature of my attention span as I write this. EP closer ‘Прощай, Оружие!’ has the honour of being it’s longest song. It’s an instrumental song where guitar/bass tones could be mistaken for harsh vocals. 

This EP ultimately signalled an extended period of slience or end to Tarkovsky’s musical endeavours. It’s sad given how good this release is. I guess I’m going to have to dive deeper into Tarkovsky’s back catalogue somehow (not sure many of their songs are available online).

You can stream Умер and purchase it as a name-your-price download below:-

Tarkovsky - https://tarkovsky.bandcamp.com

Polar Summer's CDr copies are sold out but you can still grab tape copies from Red Truth Productions here - https://redtruthproduction.bandcamp.com/album/tarkovsky

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com/

Red Truth Productions - https://www.facebook.com/REDTRUTHPRODUCTIONS/

Палисад – Истории

Labels: Its You! Records/Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 01 Jun 2016

Tracklist:

1. М-теория

2. Город

3. 8

4. Берегите Тепло

5. Кладовая Солнца

6. Вальс

7. Обещания

Snow has fallen here today for the first time in what seems like ages. I'm the only person at my day job who gets excited about it too! What it's also done is re-ignite my dive into Russian/Eastern European screamo/emo, as released by Polar Summer. This album from Saint Petersburg's Палисад was released by the band in June 01 2016, before both Polar Summer and fellow Russian label Its You! Records collaborated on a limited tape release in August of the same year.

To hear a Russian band do their best version of midwest/90’s emo is as baffling as it is inspiring, I guess. The way that music can cross the globe and reach corners almost unexpectedly is what makes it great. Палисад (Russian speakers/translators to the front) are a case in point on their 2016 album Истории. Opener ‘М-теория’ immediately shines with jangly guitar melodies and a multi-vocal approach that shows that hearts are worn clearly on sleeves. The percussion and bass work moves sensitively too and it’s not until the song’s closing moments that harsh vocals take hold. ’Город’ uses those harsh vocals to greater effect alongside the band’s fantastic musicianship, which refrains from becoming too dissonant or heavy. It’s a great take on proper emo, over sixteen years after the sub-genres explosion. 

‘8’ is an elegant song that builds instrumentally and while it makes you feel like it’s going to explode, it never does. Instead Палисад uses ‘Берегите Тепло’ to once again express their screamo-side, albeit subtly. The sound on this album is so warm and real, very much in the moment as it was no doubt supposed to be. The band’s art-punk/rock flamboyancy later on in the song shows yet another side to their musical skill. ‘Кладовая Солнца’ is the album’s longest song by a small margin but don’t worry, you’re not getting some obtuse prog-opera or anything. Instead, you’re greeted with a song that’s gentle and oh so soothing. Even toward it’s end when harshness creeps in, it reminds me of the sensitivity of Japanese emo/screamo. It makes sense considering both countries are not that far apart.

Penultimate song ‘Вальс’ is a heady mix of traditional emo and abrasive screamo, with perfect quiet/loud/quiet dynamics that shift effortlessly from one to the other, allowing the instrumentation to take centre stage again. At one point I heard what I thought was a nod to industrial music, but in truth it was just a prolonged guitar note. Album closer ‘Обещания’ sees Палисад delivering one final heavy blow that’s filled with everything that makes their music so great. From hardcore-inspired harsh vocals to twinkling emo guitar melodies and a rhythm section that brings it all together. 

This album (or EP?, I’m not sure now) was exactly what I needed this evening. My head has been so full of rubbish that it’s nice to be able to try and banish some of it to parts of my brain that I’ll never access again. Music doesn’t necessarily do that but this evening it’s really helped.

You can stream and purchase the release digitally via bandcamp below:-

Tape copies are long sold out (maybe someone someday will do a discography release).

Its You! Records - https://vk.com/its_you_its_you_its_you

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com/album/--2

Howye - No Suffocating

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 09 Dec 2015

Tracklist:

1. Comes And Goes

2. Kamchatka

3. Hide And Fight

4. Unnecessary Sediments

5. Bleeding

6. Blow Sky High

7. No Suffocating

8. Receiving Line (Title Fight Cover)

Not done one of these Polar Summer posts for a little bit. Also, please can you remind me not to start anymore of these label roster review series thingies. I've got enough on with those I'm already committed too, alongside my sporadic schedule. For those who missed my first two reviews in this lil series, I went a bit crazy about Russian DIY label Polar Summer earlier this year. I subsequently started listening to their back catalogue and even ordered quite a few of their physical releases from a European distro (Dingleberry Records). I have 14 Polar Summer releases in my collection currently, which barely scratches the surface but I'm still stoked about them!

Attempting (and failing) to flex aside, I'm trying to write this review series in release number order and this one is ps#3. It features eight tracks by Tomsk, Siberia's Howye, which I think is the band's only release to date. I can't find any others anyway (please reach out of there are more). Howye plays (played) emo/shoegaze and even covered US punk band Title Fight.

Life’s rich tapestry set to music would probably just sound like white noise used as part of sedition or torture, such is the bleak reality that we currently exist in. Looking back seems apt then as this is exactly what I’m doing. No Suffocating was originally released digitally by Howye in December 2015 before Polar Summer committed it to tape the following year. Having not known what to expect from the first two of PS’s back catalogue, this release is no different. Slow, melodic and clean tones greet you on opener ‘Comes And Goes’. It’s song-title also describes the meandering waves of instrumentation and vocals that make it. Introspective but also very enjoyable, with a smattering of dower post-punk thrown in for good measure.

‘Kamchatka’ begins like an upbeat punk-rock song upon hearing it’s first bars, but it soon retreats, leaving more instrument-heavy emo/shoegaze in it’s wake. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing at all. There’s plenty to dive into here and despite the deeper position of the vocals in the mix, when the guitars let loose they light things up. The more time you spend with the album, the more it’s layers and melodies wash over you. ‘Hide And Fight’ glides along in an early morning haze of bright treble and subtle dissonance, only clearing to bring you back to reality for a second.

The songs on No Suffocating don’t last all that long, leaving their mark succinctly. ‘Unnecessary Sentiments’ is the perfect example of that. It’s hard to accurately describe why but it’s easier-listening sensibilities flourish beyond words. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. As before, the album’s latter half is equally as pensive in places. ‘Bleeding’ eschews any images of gore and instead offers a life-affirming glimpse into a group making music that they believe in, that’s authentic and emotive.

‘Blow Sky High’ is a little more on the art/avant-garde end of the spectrum and I love it! Maybe it’s just how it hits me but I could think of worse songs to draw listeners back in than this one. The album’s penultimate song is the title-tack ‘No Suffocating’ and the double-layered harmonies coupled with the more up-front percussion lays down a real marker for what Howye could have been. To think that a band this good could exist in a corner of the world so cold and bleak is mind-blowing to me. 

Closing it all with their take on Title Fight’s ‘Receiving Line’ gives a subtle clue as to the band’s collective age when writing/recording for this album commenced, but it also shows that they can make a song their own in a beautiful way. Nothing else needs to be said really. What are the chances of scoring this on tape in the wild?.

You can stream and purchase No Suffocating as a name-your-price download from Howye's bandcamp page below:-

Tape copies are long sold out.

Howye - https://vk.com/howye

Polar Summer - https://www.instagram.com/polarxsummer/

YCПЕХ! - Уят

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 11 Mar 2016

Tracklist:

1. 29 Грамм

2. Le Coffret

3. Сары Челектеги Бир Кичинекей Окуя

Earlier this week I tried to explain to somebody why I like heavy music. During that chat, we got onto the subject of listening habits and playing the same songs over and over. I said that my listening habits were a bit like having ADHD in that I'm always looking for different bands, lesser known and weirder bands. Never being content with those I already know (to an extent). When I was having that conversation, I didn't think I'd be writing about a lo-fi and experimental emoviolence band from Kyrgyzstan but there you go.

I'm on a bit of a deep dive at the moment, which includes Russian label Polar Summer and bands from Eastern Europe/Asia. Having written about Russia's More Future Suffering a few weeks ago, it's time to delve deeper again and discover what YCПЕХ! (or yspeh) are all about to this newcomer.

Apparently this entire EP was recorded using the dictaphone on an iPhone 5, which is probably a first for me. It does; however, make sense with the off-kilter, lo-fi screamo of EP opener ’29 Грамм’. It’s thirty-seconds of harsh vocals and erratic yet melodic guitar, backed up by rustic percussion (no doubt thanks to the phone’s recording capabilities at the time). 

‘Le Coffret’ sounds somewhat fuller initially thanks to the plucked guitar. I don’t know if it was professionally recorded but that’s how it comes across, before the rest of the band comes in with more rawness. I love the opposing atmospheres between the more relaxed guitar passages and the explosive bursts in between. There’s a real structure to the song, which is something I didn’t think I’d be saying.

‘Сары Челектеги Бир Кичинекей Окуя’ closes this single-sided EP in quite dramatic style with it’s lengthy instrumental build-up before exploding with freakishly high-pitched screams that sit deeper in the recording but still manage to extrude as well. Musically and in general, YCПЕХ! are excellent on this release. 

They have released plenty of music since this EP surfaced in 2016 and I’m still to discover it all properly. The tantalising prospect of releases with greater volume and production values build anticipation for sure, but this EP is a great listen as it is. 

You can stream and download the EP via bandcamp below:-

Tape copies from Polar Summer are long sold out.

YCПЕХ! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yspeh.band

Polar Summer Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/polarxsummer/

More Future Suffering - Stars On The Pillow EP

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 11 Sep 2015

Tracklist:

1. Mn-t. 15.

2. Stars On The Pillow

3. Noyabr'

A few reviews back I said I was gonna go on a Polar Summer deep-dive. Even though I have a schedule written up and a list as long as my arm of submissions, it just feels right to stray from that path and go a voyage of obscure musical discovery before I have to succumb to mundanity again tomorrow (9-5 at least). I'm starting with the very first Polar Summer release by a Russian band called More Future Suffering. Stars On The Pillow was the band's second release back in 2016. Polar Summer put this EP out as a 22 tape run.

I’m definitely moving in a more screamo/emo-adjacent circle right now, listening-wise anyway. Having Spotify on my phone and listening to the latest curated melodic/metallic hardcore playlists has pushed me in that direction simply because I want to enjoy something less polished (if you know what I mean?). To be honest though, I’m not sure what to expect from More Future Suffering, as I think the music is going to be more ambient than I’m used too, but who dares wins and all that. EP opener ‘Mn-t.15.’ is indeed an ambient piece and one that seems to audibly frame the vast unpopulated expanse of the band’s motherland. Slowly building with subtle guitar and crackling noise/effects, It’s utterly beautiful, without a hint of the screamo/emo I mentioned at the top of this review, though when the tempo picks up towards it’s conclusion the heart rate does a bit too.

I mentioned the crackling above but on the title track ’Stars On The Pillow’ it sounds way more like a campfire burning away in the moonlight, alongside the gentle acoustic guitar. It’s both calming and also quite emotional to listen too (especially when re-watching videos of a relative’s puppy). I mean, who doesn’t like puppies right?!. After two very lengthy compositions, it’s left to the very closer ‘Noyabr’’ to provide a slight glimpse into the future (sorry) sound of More Future Suffering.

I guess as we age our taste in music evolves. We still reach for what grabbed us when we were younger but we also seek something different, something more mature. More Future Suffering passed me by, as have so many other artists/bands but thanks to the digital age that we live in, it’s never too late to right those wrongs and enjoy what’s been committed to tape (or other mediums). I’m excited about what’s to come now. Please put aside some time to appreciate More Future Suffering. You won’t regret it.

You can stream Stars On The Pillow and purchase it as a name-your-price download from More Future Suffering below:-

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com/album/stars-on-the-pillow

Mrtex/Carl Johnson - Split

Labels: Polar Summer/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 27 Feb 2018

Tracklist:

1. Mrtex - That Plant Gets Me On A Deeply Personal Level

2. Mrtex - Human Is Death Process

3. Mrtex - Our Governing Body Is A Toxic, Rotting Corpse So Let's Dump It In The Fucking Sewer

4. Carl Johnson - Second Wind

5. Carl Johnson - Against You!

6. Carl Johnson - Pull The Trigger

7. Carl Johnson - Enemy/Self

8. Carl Johnson - Hot Kila

This review feels like the end of era, as it's the last one I'll get to write about a Mrtex release. This split with Russian screamo/emoviolence band Carl Johnson was released back in early 2018, on tape (limited to 50 copies) via Russian label Polar Summer and Zegema Beach Records. Mrtex have three songs here while Carl Johnson has five. Also, I feel a Polar Summer deep dive coming!

If you’ve been following my ZBR roster review series or even my random review schedule that came before it, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the emoviolence that made Mrtex what they were. Giving it their absolute all on this last release was the only way to go. Their opener ‘That Plant Gets Me On A Deeply Personal Level’ features the noisy, intense craziness of Mrtex for what seems like the briefest of moments before the movie/tv sample takes over. Itself, making perfect sense on top of the buzzing/atmospheric guitar. 

‘Human Is Death Process’ is vintage Mrtex, where sub one-minute songs are still filled with enough music to get the blood pumping. Closing both their side of the split and their final chapter, ‘Our Governing Body Is A Toxic, Rotting Corpse So Let’s Dump It In The Fucking Sewer’ is like the emoviolence version of a rock-opera (I mean that because of it’s playing time). Off-kilter signatures mixed with pogoing percussion lead into an introspective second half that builds in volume and emotion. What a way to sign off!

Talking of signing off (or maybe not), this split also contains the last recorded output from Carl Johnson to date. The screeching feedback that opens ‘Second Wind’ is downright piercing. It leads to a somewhat heavier, more hardcore influenced sound. CJ’s longest song ‘Against You!’ is also their most dramatic, with it’s anxiety inducing guitar melodies and higher-pitched screams. 

Wrenching you back in a faster and heavier direction, ‘Pull The Trigger’ mixes emoviolence with chunkier hardcore. It’s a sound that really catches the ear, especially if you like things slightly heavier. That sound carries on into ‘Enemy/Self’ with it’s bass-laden tones and mathcore-esque explosiveness. It’s latter half is where the grandeur happens, reminding me a bit of the final track from Totem Skin’s Still Waters Run Deep, albeit condensed.

Carl Johnson close things out with the hot mess that is ‘Hot Killa’. All twenty-four seconds of it. The subtlest of subtle melodic riffs join a final burst of technical, noisy screamo/hardcore. For me to sum up this split, I’d say that both bands fell silent too soon. Granted CanaDave has talked at some length about the break up of Mrtex, it’s still a loss given their complete output. Carl Johnson left behind a briefer discography but one that, especially with this split, really left an impression. The feels are strong on this one.

You can stream and download both sides of this split from Mrtex, and Carl Johnson below:-

Mrtex - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion

Carl Johnson - https://www.facebook.com/carljohnsonforlife

Tapes copies are still available from ZBR's US store here - https://zbrusa.com/collections/tapes/products/мятеж-carl-johnson-split-cassette

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords