Tapes 'N Tapes - Walk It Off

by Lisa Holmes

SXSW Veterans lead by example

"This is the sound of an agitated mind, gone are the clown-like associations of ‘The Loon’ , instead we are treated to a walk in a wasteland, forced to draw pleasure from the discarded items found along our path."

The so-called ‘difficult second album’ is here displayed in all its glory. TNT offer a darker but more complete picture. Where 2006 debut ‘The Loon’ was shot through with lightning-like epiphanies, ‘Walk It Off’ burrows deep in to the fertile ash left behind.

Spiky art-rock is almost completely banished in favour of dense, multi-layered compositions that owe much to Arcade Fire, even sampling the favoured organ. There is no shortage of strong tunes and equally demanding choruses, as demonstrated on the storming ‘Headshock’, pile driving drumming pounds the words “never, never, never” into infinity. It is unmistakably powerful and cannot fail to grow on a listener.

The Minneapolis natives enlisted the help of psychedelic indie super-producer Dave Fridmann (who has worked with Sleater-Kinney and The Flaming Lips) to assist in the creation of the aptly-titled ‘Walk It Off’. Indeed each track seems to help the band get something off their chest, songs like ‘Demon Apple’ virtually end on a scream having worked themselves in to a fuzzy frenzy, and each track builds tension from start to finish.

The best example being mission statement, and album opener ‘Le Ruse’. The middle section of the album seems possessed by the ghost of The Stooges, with tracks like ‘Blunt’ strutting across the stage in a haze of revolutionary punk rock. But elsewhere bands like Pavement and Modest Mouse spring to mind, each bringing their own take on college rock. The middle section slows the pace introducing some slower more introspective moments on the dirge-like ‘Anvil’, ‘Lines’ steps up smartly setting a cracking pace and showcasing military style discipline.

The drums of Jeremy Hanson dominate much of the album, driving forward the echoing vocals with a sense of purpose. Closing track ‘The Dirty Dirty’ lingers malevolently with its insistent refrain of “Where did all the money go?” This is the sound of an agitated mind, gone are the clown-like associations of ‘The Loon’ , instead we are treated to a walk in a wasteland, forced to draw pleasure from the discarded items found along our path, including distorted images of heads on fire, demons, and bloody conquest. A triumphant second coming that resurrects itself with each listen; some may even label it a crusade.

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