Sounds Like: Not quite post punk, not quite new wave
RIYL: British Sea Power, Pere Ubu, (early) Joy Division, Hot Cha Cha
From the Press Release: At a time when music descended from “punk” and “new wave” has been reduced to it’s most rudimentary and lo-fi elements, Mystery of Two continues to pursue the original artistic aspirations of the genre---believing that art and music can be unfamiliar and challenging, without sacrificing accessibility. Much like their musical touchstones—The Feelies, The Voidoids, Talking Heads, and Pere Ubu—Mystery of Two follow the axiom that the unconventional can be created through paramount musicianship, attention to song-craft, and sonic structuring.
Their self-titled follow up to 2006’s Arrows Are All You Know, finds Mystery of Two further traversing the boundaries of experimental pop, and no where is this more evident than in the masterful guitar playing of singer/guitarist Ryan Weitzel. Channeling Robert Quine (Voidoids) and Richard Lloyd (Television), Weitzel creates songs that convey a sense of urgency and immediacy, which at times evolve into turbulences reminiscent of Dinosaur Jr. Vocally, Weitzel has been described as a baritone fusion of David Byrne and Nick Cave, which masterfully accompanies the dark sound-scapes and lyrical content created by the band. Steadied by the pop-gun drumming of Nick Riley and stalwart bass playing of Jeff Deasey, the palpable energy of this trio is captured in these “live take” recordings, which were later augmented by unique instrumentation unfamiliar to their pedigree (violin, trumpet, slide guitar). As a result of their chemistry, energy and effort, Mystery of Two succeeds in creating an updated aesthetic to the timeless works that emanated from the Bowery over three decades ago.
The band's second record (self titled) will be released 14 September.
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