CD Reviews

Future of the Left | Polymers Are Forever

Xtra Mile (2011)

By ZETH LUNDY | January 17, 2012

3.0 Stars

Since we last heard from Future of the Left, Cardiff's greatest non-furry export lost founding member Kelson Mathias and gained two new ones. Andy Falkous and Jack Egglestone, ex-Mclusky and no strangers to internal band disintegration, soldier on like it ain't no thang — to my ears, their wail-and-bash raison d'etre continues to bring more intense, absurd listening pleasure than any other noise band on the planet. On this six-song EP, a teaser for the band's forthcoming third full-length, The Plot Against Common Sense, FOTL sound even more wiry and razor-like than when they were a trio. The breathlessness is still there, but it's aerodynamically designed. Check out the barreling "With Apologies to Emily Pankhurst," with its whining Farfisa organ cutting a taut line through Falkous's fevered yawp. "Destroywhitchurch.com" and "My Wife is Unhappy" are full-tilt but with restraint — the latter even tosses some melodic trumpet into the mix. Best of all is the title track, the sole song to make it onto the LP. Its strength, like the band's, lies in escalating repetition, patiently making a good thing last longer. And get louder.

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Topics: CD Reviews , Music, CD reviews, Pop, More

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