I've been putting off writing about this record for ages because each time I try I can't seem to find the words to describe it. Nothing I can write quite does it justice. Castles are an excellent band and I thoroughly recommend checking them out; huge song after huge song. Just listen to Palm Reader or Followed By a Hundred Rats to see what I'm talking about. In fact, you can probably skip everything below and just go straight to bandcamp; here's a link.
I was introduced to Castles by my friend Hugh - he posted me a cdr with the demos of his band's new songs followed by a copy of Castles' first album, You, the Organ Grinder. There was a note in with the cd that claimed something along the lines of "you'll love Castles, they sound like Taint" (for those who don't know, Taint were one of the finest bands in South Wales and we saw them regularly. It was a sad day when they broke up but their last-ever show was excellent and worth nearly crashing my car in snow for). Both things in that note were true - Castles did sound a bit like Taint and I did love them.
When Castles announced their second album, I pre-ordered immediately and waited eagerly. Some time earlier I'd got a proper copy of You, the Organ Grinder and played it a lot. I'm never quite sure what genre I'd call Castles, but imagine somewhere between metal and really heavy gruff-punk-rock would cover it. It makes for a pretty good style either way. Their second album didn't disappoint - somehow different but in small subtle ways. The song structures are more varied and the Taint comparison is less evident; it's an improvement on something I already thought was pretty excellent.
A few words need to be said about the artwork here: inside the gatefold are pictures of the band romancing their instruments in various way which are just hilarious. It's not the sort of imagery you'd associate with music like this. The half-orange, half-white vinyl looks great too.
Format: 12", gatefold sleeve
Tracks: 10
Cost: £17.50 new
Bought: Band's website
When: 03/12/13
Colour: Half orange, half white
Etching: none
mp3s: no
