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Hitch and Bilk…

Hitch - We Are Electric!Hitch is a Belgian indie rock outfit that's apparently become fairly well known in Europe during their 10-year existence, touring heavily and cranking out numerous releases along the way. "We Are Electric!" is the band's fourth album, their first through Moonlee Records, and it's a fuckin' great one, so I can certainly see why they've achieved a certain level of visibility worldwide (granted this is unfortunately my first exposure to their work). Shockingly enough, Hitch is the second band this week for whom I'll draw comparisons to the DC/Dischord scene, the Chicago "noise rock" skronk, and the Amphetamine Reptile bite, among others—though the group's overall songwriting aesthetic is somehow very fluid and tangible despite some of the jarring shifts and chaotic tendencies that seep into play on occasion. They never shed an undercurrent of melody, whether it's being carried by the throbbing pulse of the basslines, brightly ringing guitars, or the superb vocals; or whether its character is of the catchier and more energetic variety, or following a darker and more somber edge. The fact that the production kicks ass and really emphasizes a level of clarity and space between the elements, not to mention the warmth of the rhythm section, is certainly an important factor in the full impact of the record, but the bottom line here is definitely songwriting quality. In my experience few artists are able to mesh these types of influences in a manner that's this friendly on the ears, and in the case of "We Are Electric!" the end result could appeal just as much to fans of Quicksand and Fugazi as to those of The Jesus Lizard and Failure. Very well done...

Hitch "Last Man Standing"
Hitch "(This Shallow Heart)"

As always, I very much encourage you to make the purchase if you dig the tunes:

Interpunk






Bilk - This Bilk is RadioactiveBilk is a strange Croatian trio whose first album, "This Bilk is Radioactive" (Moonlee Records), contains eight instrumental tracks that completely and totally defy categorization—at least as far as my ears are concerned. Synths play a larger role than guitars and are often the focal instrument overall, so there's a significant degree of "electronic" character involved, but I don't even know how the hell to begin to describe it. And countering the electronic aesthetic is a badass rhythm section that locks in perfectly and sees oft-jazzy bass and percussion fluidly weaving together with varying degrees of flashiness to create a warm and inviting foundation for the more "artistic" (read: bizarre) elements to roam upon. Sometimes they're joined by saxophones or other additional instrumentation to further throw the listener for a loop, sometimes the bass moves into the focal role with a harder-hitting and distorted tone, sometimes the pieces of the puzzle unite to create an almost soundtrack-esque quality... let's just say that despite similarities and consistent characteristics, no two tracks are truly alike here. Melody and repetition are quite well employed throughout the record, though the latter isn't relied upon to the point of redundancy at all, so it's a generally enjoyable listen... just one that'll keep you scratching your head. Curious, to say the least. You won't find many other acts like Bilk out there!

Bilk "Gone to Texas"

You know the drill, so buy it if you're down:

Interpunk

Comments

  1. this is some great stuff. both these bands are fantastic.

    12.14.2006 | By chris

  2. fuck, i’m from croatia, and i’ve never even heard of bilk. had to read about ‘em on an american site, shame on me. i like this track, tho, it’s sort of like a reggae with a twist. really like the atmosphere. hitch really have that throwback feel to ‘em, i miss that whole sound. thanks yet again for some great new music to check out, andrew.

    12.14.2006 | By chris

  3. Oh snap. I’m into this right here. trupped out and chillen.

    12.15.2006 | By Adrianoso

  4. tripped*

    12.16.2006 | By Adrianoso

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