The Trouble We're In,
Call Me LightningFor a meagre three members, Milwaukee’s Call Me Lightning creates an awful lot of noise which pulsates from the moment the opening salvo of “The Trouble We’re In’ begins. With that familiar sound of wailing guitars, no obvious coherent rhythm and vocals that dip and twist more than an Olympic gymnast, it once again culminates in something that aspires to be something more intelligent than it actually thinks it is.
That isn’t to say it isn’t the billy bollox it wants to be. This whole dance punk phenomena seems to becoming more of a natural occurrence as each month passes by and Call Me Lightning certainly have tightened there own angle on the genre in so much they do actually make you wanna shake your ass to some of the thumping basslines and melodies on display. ‘We be Dragons’ pretty much opens it up the way you would want in suitably manic fashion, but a display of more restrained guitar wielding comes in the form of the thoughtful ‘Asses’ and ‘Hungry Lions’.
Other efforts range from the hauntingly surreal ‘Horseflies’ to the breakneck rock and roll-esque ‘Ghouls’ as it veers from one side of the track to another with little regard for whoever happens to find themselves in front of the sound. Quite simply, it will fuck you up beyond belief if you don’t prepare for it. Which can only be a good thing.
While this ‘dance’ punk sound is becoming more and more popular, this effort does lose itself a little at times and becomes muddled and messed. The feeling of hearing one similar song after another becomes apparent after plentiful listens but then what band has managed to create an album of complete diversity on its debut? Very few. The trio have achieved a competent if somewhat messed debut, but in terms of sheer effort (and also bludey spanking artwork) they cannot be faulted.
Jay
www.callmelightning.com
Revelation Records
