Anechoic - This Is How It Is

by Tom Mendelsohn

It’s got guitars in it too, so you needn’t worry about being too outré

"Despite displaying the lamentable taste in haircuts which would normally demarcate a band not really in it for the music, Anechoic actually peddle a genuinely lovely sound."

This debut 6-track mini-album from a trio of barely-knowns turns out to be something of discovery. Despite displaying the lamentable taste in haircuts which would normally demarcate a band not really in it for the music, Anechoic actually peddle a genuinely lovely sound. It’s heavy on the synths and drum machines – not in that tiring 80s seedy style on its way out, but in a slightly more solemn and sincere fashion.

It’s got guitars in it too, so you needn’t worry about being too outré. What the band does best, though, which is nothing to do with which instruments they choose to employ, is hooks, and lots of them. It also helps that they have a singer who can genuinely sing – his effortless ability to hit the high notes is another major factor in his band’s success.

However, It is not all plain sailing, as in their more unfocused moments, Anechoic do manage to sound a little like Athlete. Fortunately, the drab elements are generally kept to a minimum by a commendable attention to detail and just enough experimentation: you get choppy drum-beat bits, washes of electric noise and some beguilingly intricate synth lines. As such, they achieve a decent 4:2 ratio of quality songs to duff ones, and because their better ones are objectively decent, you’d have to say that this album is worth a dabble.

Be the first to comment on this article