Description
London's Warp label is better known as a pioneer of brainy, slightly austere electronica, having released major CDs by acts such as Autechre, Squarepusher, and Boards of Canada. But when it ventures into guitar-based sounds, the label's discoveries are no less impressive--a fact confirmed by the addition of Max¯mo Park to Warp's limited rock roster, which already boasted the splendid Broadcast. Max¯mo Park's music loosely fits alongside that of postpunk contemporaries such as
the Futureheads and
Bloc Party (unsurprisingly, the three bands have worked with producer Paul Epworth). But the quintet brings a different sensibility to its jagged guitars and snappy suits. First of all, it hails from Newcastle Upon Tyne, in the north of England, and one of the many delights on
A Certain Trigger is singer Paul Smith's untamed accent, which adds uncommon warmth to the songs. Second, Max¯mo Park's music has an emotional resonance too often lacking from its peers, who can seem more preoccupied with finding the right tie than the right lyric. Smith's voice pulses with genuine-sounding urgency and passion, while the band bangs away with abandon. It all makes tracks like "Once a Glimpse," with its brusque accelerations, and the heady "Apply Some Pressure" resonate long after they're over.
Elisabeth Vincentelli
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