AWmusic

HORSE the Band garnered attention and a fan base through their unique sound which fused 18-bit Nintendo influences with post hardcore to create what the band named at the time, “Nintendo-core”. The band have done what they can to get away from that style and that label before they become a one-trick pony.

So where did they go to get away from themselves? Not far enough. On Desperate Living, their shiny new album, HTB have simply replaced the Nintendo samples and influences with random bits of electronic noise that teeters between obnoxious and down right nauseating. Serving to do nothing more than crowd what could be solid post-hardcore.

In the current musical landscape where every other band is a cookie cutter of someone more popular, I do admire a band who try and do something different to make themselves stand out. When that differentiation is a good one, it can lead to some incredible music.

In the case of Desperate Living, the differentiation leaves the album crowded and loaded to the tits with sounds that don’t need to be there. The actual talent is there buried underneath looped bloops and beeps, that often leave you begging to hear the real song and not the over produced nonsense that made it’s way onto the final mix of Desperate Living.

Opening track Cloudwalker sets the stage for the cornucopia of useless noises which include what sounds like a beat driven 80’s dial tone and some monotonous drone of a voice that speaks both over the music and in the background at times. It’s a shame, cause it takes away from the decent time changes, chant along that actually works and front man Nathan Winneke’s throat shredding howls.

Lead single Shapeshift starts out teasing you like a drunk Catholic virgin on spring break, comeing in hard and fast without hinting at the same junk that’s been cluttering the album up until that point. Unfortunately the same way all that catholic girl is going to offer you is her asshole, the song quickly shifts into a mindless collection of shitty samples and electroically distoted drumbeats, ruining what could have been an awesome track had the guitar been left to it’s own devices, instead of burried in a sea of inane noise.

Tracks like Golden Mummy Golden Bird let you know what you’re in for right away with it’s cheesey mid 80’s eight year old with a Casio keyboard opening, while the unfortunately titled Rape Escape (hey that rhymes, cool) opens with the pre-programed Casio sample located two buttons over.

The Failure of All Things, is just far too easy to make fun of. I could easily point out that this song and the album it’s found on is actually the failure of all good music, or the failure of invention, so instead of being that predictable, lets move on.

By the time final track Arrive rolls around, there is nothing left in HTB’s bag of tricks to surprise you and it’s just more of the same, only this time they set the Casio to “organ” before hitting the sample key. We get it guys, your kitchy, and perhaps if I wore ironic t-shirts with obscure Mario Bros. bad guys, jeans that taper right down till they hug my ankels right above my purple old school LA gear style shoes and a bandana folded so that it lets just enough of my greasy hair hang out I might be jumping up and down in a mosh pit in front of your stage, screaming, “play the one about Mega Man.” Unfortunately though, I’m just a guy who likes it when his music sounds like it was mixed and produced by a proffessional who wouldn’t choose to blurry the actual musical talents of the members of HORSE The Band under a landside of annoying shit.

Although HTB are honorable in their attempt to create an album that would stand out like vibrant colour in a musical world composed of shades of grey, the colour they ended up producing with Desperate Living is one that misses the mark by leaps and bounds and leaves you longing for the comfort that can be found in grey. It may be mundane and normal, but at least it doesn’t make you want to dig your eardrums out with a rusty Philips head screw driver.

Horse The Band – Cloudwalker
Horse The Band – Shapeshift
Horse The Band – Rape Escape