This album does exactly what it says on the tin. Two bands, Planet Brain, from Italy and Lebatol, the British band who are the masterminds behind Function Records on which this album is released, combine for, yes you’ve guessed it, a split album. The first five tracks allocated to Planet Brain, with Lebatol finishing off proceedings.
I’m not sure if it is some deep-seated fear that I’ve held for the last few years manifesting itself into paranoia, or whether this disturbing trend that I’ve noticed is really spreading. It sounds very much to me that the 1990’s are on their way back in. As much as you could laugh at all the skinny indie kids with their floppy hair, leather jackets and synths on ironing boards, trying their utmost to re-invent punk one jerky movement at a time, at least they were ripping off (quite unashamedly) an era of music that was actually good. Now, I fear, all is lost, as if I’m not mistaken I can see cardigans on the horizon.
Choosing to release a split album, as opposed to a collaboration, is risky business, as if two bands don’t quite mesh under one roof then the end result is a pretty lazy effort at a compilation. In Split however, while the music on show isn’t particularly brilliant, at least it goes well together. Don’t get me wrong, not one of these ten tracks is particularly offensive, or even that bad. At the same time though none of it is particularly good. A common shoegazer meets post-hardcore them runs through these two bands, although they are interpreted differently. The result is enough similarities to hold the album together, but enough variety to prevent it from being a complete write off.
Planet Brain are definitely the stronger of the two, with uninspiring yet pleasant music. It is evocative of 90’s alternative college rock meets emo meets Muse. The strained vocals give an annoying tinge to the album that makes you just want to turn it off. It’s just dull and unimaginative. Ironically, their best track is ‘Failure’.
Lebatol’s music is slightly more interesting, with interesting musical arrangements and catchier guitars. The vocals however negate any interest that might have been piqued and make them sound like a group you would hear in a Battle of the Bands contest in a Pub function room in Woking.
Overall, I think if you like your music dreary, inoffensive and devoid of character, then maybe this album will appeal to you. If it was bad then at least it would be inspiring some sort of emotion, but as it stands the only emotive reaction to Split that I can think of is indifference.
www.myspace.com/planetbrain
www.myspace.com/lebatol
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