{"id":23602,"date":"2016-09-26T12:15:41","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T16:15:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=23602"},"modified":"2017-06-24T07:17:34","modified_gmt":"2017-06-24T11:17:34","slug":"album-review-kestrels-st","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=23602","title":{"rendered":"Album Review: Kestrels – Kestrels"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Kestrels\"Halifax noise-pop power trio Kestrels return with their new self-titled LP to be released worldwide\u00a0September 30, 2016<\/span>\u00a0via Hamilton, Ontario\u2019s fabled Sonic Unyon label. Regrouping after the band lost key boutique, modded, and vintage equipment\u00a0from a\u00a0van and gear theft, they’ve\u00a0created a record that’s right in\u00a0our musical sweet spot – combining fuzzy, noisy guitars with catchy melodies. It fits nicely into Sonic Unyon’s past and present catalog.<\/p>\n

The album was two years in the making, they recorded the rhythm tracks in downtown Toronto\u2019s Dream House Studio by Alex Bonenfant (METZ, Crystal Castles), with vocal sessions and guitar tracking taking place in vocalist\/guitarist Chad Peck\u2019s gear sanctuary\/home studio in rural Nova Scotia. The band tapped lauded producer Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Sunny Day Real Estate) to mix the record in his LA based Seagrass Studio in the spring of 2015. Ringo Deathstarr’s Elliott Frazier and Alex Gehring also make cameo guitar and vocal appearances, solidifying a friendship that began with a Canadian tour in 2012.<\/p>\n

The end result is by far their most accomplished recording to date. Drummer Paul Brown provides rhythm dynamics that can turn from tightly wound to borderline unhinged on a dime, Devin Peck covers unprecedented sonic ground with his bass, and Peck provides soft focus vocals backed by alternately tuned Fender Jazzmasters pushed through all manner of obscure Japanese fuzz pedals and coveted 80s rackmount processors.<\/p>\n

This is a strong record – it kicks off\u00a0with No Alternative’s<\/em>\u00a0punchy drums and relentless guitar textures – take a listen below. Throughout the album, they never let up with songs like\u00a0Are \u00a5ou Alone?<\/em> and Wide Eyes<\/em>. The album gives you a breather with the slower paced Neko<\/em>, but it still chugs along with a rhythm that makes you want to tap your toe coupled with\u00a0beautiful layered vocals. The\u00a01:58 long\u00a0Waiting<\/em> kicks back\u00a0into full speed mode with some catchy\u00a0fuzzed-out guitars and walls of noise – very nice indeed. You should check out ‘Kestrels’ especially if you’re a fan of My Bloody Valentine, Sianspheric, or early Treble Charger.<\/p>\n