Review Summary: ...And More Noise
Barstow, CA based math-core quintet Duck Duck Goose’s two-year old promise of a full-length follow-up to their EP
Noise, Noise and More Noisehas finally come to fruition. Despite several minor advancements,
Off Yourself proves to be exactly what they promised, and what one would expect from the spastic five-piece.
The first thing I noticed about about
Off Yourself is its several references to
Noise. From the soft, acoustic opening track “Documenting Disappointment,” (reminiscent of the acoustic ballad at the end of Noise’s “The Wonderful Wizard of LSD”) through the chaotically timed (and played) intro section to “Hellevator,” to the actual inclusion of past lyrics in “Cosmic Kidd Nappers,” Noise’s influences are hard to ignore. Opening the danceable track, “Dirt Freaks,” the lyrics “Don’t you ever say I’m bad on my feet!” rear their ugly head; a reference to “Red, I Don’t Have Time For This” perhaps?
Lyrical similarities aside, progression is abundant on
Off Yourself. Both guitarists depend less on pedal boards and cool noises to make inventive bridges, utilizing more physical finesse to manipulate the guitars into making whatever sound they need them to. The bass has also taken an enormous leap from the days of
Noise. Where it has previously taken a backseat to just about everything, leaving the bassist’s talent to be almost completely ignored, currently it has jumped up and is part of an auditory struggle for your attention. The introduction to "Dirt Freaks" proves as a perfect example: the bass is mixed almost equally with the guitar, and not only is it rare amongst many other “-core” bands, it is well played and sounds phenomenal.
Duck Duck Goose’s penchant for the breakdown has not been forgotten amongst the prevalent musical progression. Both “Cosmic Kidd Nappers” and “Firetrucks on Fire” feature breakdowns amongst the heaviest of those they’ve ever written, with daunting and nonsensical lyrics to match (“I was the sun/ burned out!/ Cash out”). Overall though, the effect-laden heavier sections have taken a slight back seat to more inventive sections with varying vocals, which brings me to the only glaring misstep this album encounters.
Duck Duck Goose are some weird guys, and they make no attempts to hide it. The least welcome addition to
Off Yourself turns out to be the bizarre almost whispered clean vocals spread sparsely across the album. While they appear rarely, whenever they show up, they seriously injure, if not kill the chaotic mood set by the shrill screaming. Wile this may very well be the point, the eerie clean vocals drain every drop of momentum from a previously rip-roaring whirlwind of a song. The only exception being the introduction to I Came, Come, in which the soft vocals set a deceptively calm mood for an otherwise batshit insane song.
Off Yourself is chaotic, spastic, intense and nonsensical; every bit the sequel to
Noise the band promised it would be. However, not only is it a more-than-fitting sequel, it is a stellar stand alone album, displaying musical progression and ingenuity. And in spite of the bone-chilling(ly bad) whispered vocals which make questionable appearances throughout the album,
Off Yourself emerges as an intact, and remarkably strong mathcore album.
Now, if only there was some sense that could be made of that rap at the end of “Pollution People.”
