Review Summary: spiritual escapism, man
It’s a cliché for punk bands to blow up just at the peak of something special. It’s what
Refused did, what
Nation Of Ulysses did, what
Snowing did, what
Dads should have done. It’s what
Plaids did, who last year authored one of the best albums the UK DIY scene has frankly ever seen. Twenty six minutes of chaotic emotional hardcore, as concerned as it was with
Slowdive as it was with Carl Sagan; it felt important, and vital, and just as vital is the new EP from Soul Structure.
After Plaids split up, singer Joe Caithness needed an outlet for the ideas he still had kicking about. Along with Kyle Jenner and István Lukasz respectively from
Police Drama and
Akallabeth,
The Body Of Man concerns itself with where Plaids left itself. Influences from the best of 80s/90s post hardcore typically finds itself in the frantic guitars, with stop start rhythms giving way to destination-less breakdowns.
But if Plaids was concerned with cosmos, Soul Structure are more grounded. The spaces in between the chaos root themselves in post-punk as well as mystical sixties-era folk music and nature, which help influence the quieter moments of the EP and add to the obscure and spiritual feel. The drone like guitars in ‘Zapain’ fall and give way to raga influenced bass that beckons in the sound of the train that follows the listener throughout the record’s seventeen minutes. Final track ‘River Leen’ shows the surprising virtuosity and density of the instrumentation, as serrated and harsh guitars play amongst skilled drum breaks that are overtaken by a surreal ambience. Eventually spiritual folk guitar is heard amongst field recordings of that same train. Kids play in parks.
It’s this imagery of British parklife that fills
The Body Of Man. Lyrics concern the rise of the far-right, as they criticise the lack of respect regarding nature in cities. This atmosphere, this imagery of the suburban and all its political connotations, fits well with the chaotic hardcore that takes up most of the record. We go to basement shows to escape as much as we do to learn and bond.
