Strap yourselves in, because this new release from Body Hound, Sheffield’s premier instrumental progressive math rock lunatics, is a wild ride. ‘No Moon’ starts innocuously enough; opener ‘Stargazer’ is a criminally short treat of celestial synthwave, but from ‘Spectrum’ onward the listener is barraged with heavy, unpredictable grooves and baffling time-signatures. The two guitars and the bass seem to be at constant war with each other, whilst the drums do their best to mediate the situation. And yet, despite what might sound like a mess when described, Body Hound’s sound is somehow extremely cohesive and even infectious at times.
Tracks like ‘Bloom’ and the aforementioned ‘Spectrum’ really make you work to find the rhythm, but that just makes it even more rewarding when you do get your head round it. There’s a sassiness to these tracks that’s difficult to explain, but it’s likely the result of the sheer gall it takes to write music like this. The confidence of this album is taken to another level by the slick, textured production that allows all the instruments room to breathe (and show off) whilst still giving the whole thing a sense of weight. The bass in particular sounds massive and makes everything sound heavy without needing the guitars to be too distorted.
There are more subtle moments on ‘No Moon’, like the soulful intro to ‘Black Palace’ and the serene ‘Pillar Of Light’, but for the most part it’s fairly relentless, and with it clocking in at just under an hour, casual listeners may find this album a bit impenetrable. The only other criticism is the under-use of the electronic elements showcased in ‘Stargazer’ and ‘Red Stasis’. There are some really interesting ideas lurking in those two short intro / interlude tracks, and it would have been nice to see them expanded upon and worked into the actual songs rather than used as segues. Overall, though, ‘No Moon’ is a fantastic record for those patient and resilient enough to be mentally pummeled by it for its considerable run time. Just maybe make sure you’re sitting down first.
LIAM KNOWLES