RETRIEVER #3 - The Curse

Facebook / retriever.bandcamp.com/

I picked up on RETRIEVER in middle of last year and followed up with the lead song to their three track single "Happiness Falls" at the start of this, so it makes perfect sense to make it a third posting on the Newcastle trio with the release of the other songs that make up that single (due next week, April 16th) "The Curse" and "Setting Sun", the timing is about right too, after four days off work I'm definitely in the frame of mind for some dark, uncompromising post-punk on my return...

If you've been introduced to the bands sound before then you'll not be surprised by "The Curse", the scene is cast immediately with a pummelling drum machine beat, don't expect much sunshine here, "The Curse" is a relentless breed of all things black. Next come the guitars, heavy and shrouded in murky distortion driven by deep, moody bass fuzz, by the time Jackie's Miller aggressive vocals enter the fray you're already hooked, her bitter delivery is perfectly placed amongst the walls of noise, commanding every inch of your attention. The other track "Setting Sun" is even more intense, pounding and hypnotic beats take centre stage amongst twisted guitar howls, it's jagged and venomous throughout, RETRIEVER are here to blow your socks off.

Retriever #2 - Happiness Falls

Facebook / retriever.bandcamp.com/

Retriever first showed up on this blog when they got the "Introducing" treatment last summer, this track, "Happiness Falls" (the first of 3 tracks recorded for a Spring single is available free via soundcloud or bandcamp) follows the same dark, punishing style that made their malevolent, brooding sounds so appealing on the part of my ears that wish they were permanently stuck somewhere in a dark, smoky 80's club basement.

"Happiness Falls" is uncompromising with its intent,  purposeful drum machine beats, a chunky, rumbling bass-line and circling guitar howls create a moody, eerie atmosphere in which Jackie venomous vocals intimidate and intoxicate, equally unnerving and arousing and absolutely wonderful to boot. To repeat, yours for free (even without trying to find an alternative download to that broken megaupload / filesonic link) below:

Retriever play London's Queen of Hoxton on March 20th alongside The Neat - details.

Retriever - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / retriever.bandcamp.com/

Retriever are a Newcastle band (seriously, what do you feed your musicians up there?!) who really should have come to my attention before the weekend just gone. Their dark, fuzzed-up frenzy of screeching guitar noise, pummelling drum machine beats and gnarling vocals is right up my street. The shoegaze / post-punk side of my street anyway. For those who appreciate only my folkier side won't find much joy here.

Retrievers' forthcoming release is a split 7" with fellow Newcastle band Cult Image via Splash One Records on 19th September, their lead track on it 'Arms Out Wide' highlights their sound well. A raw and moody monochrome assault, with dark and vicious vocals, angry scratching guitars and a prominent bass-line throughout. It's doing wonders for my ears that's for sure.

I do wonder how this lot escaped my attention until now, especially when I read that earlier EP 'The Rattle and the Hiss' was released via Desire Records earlier this year. Without mentioning every excellent track (which is quite tempting) the title track and "The Engine" stand out. "The Engine" is a relentless juggernaut of loud and distorted guitar-driven choruses, as drum-machine beat drives the unforgiving howls hisses of brooding vocalist Jackie. It's been on repeat all day, well alongside their older release, 'Murder'.

"Murder" backed with "Lion" was their first single released last September and it's fucking wonderful too. An intense wall of discordant fuzz leads to an intoxicating headrush of feedback and menace, you can order that here. I've done so and recommend you do the same.

Listen:
Arms Out Wide by RETRIEVER
Murder by RETRIEVER
Lion by RETRIEVER
The Engine by RETRIEVER