IMMUNE are a youthful, but tangibly ambitious quintet from Leeds, who - aligned with the fledgling, but professional Gizeh label - have just released their first 3-track EP. And it's an excellent, provocative start.
Opening track "Elek" quickly demonstrates that the band are not easily categorisable. Having been dummied by the initial electro beats and clicky guitar figure, the sound shifts gradually through guitar overload, brooding atmosphere and sultry harmonies to come out sounding expansive and Prog-gy with dub-like drifts wandering nomadically among the landscape. At seven minutes in length, it recalls Radiohead, Pink Floyd and Massive Attack briefly before ultimately heading off into its' own headspace. As mystifying in its' execution as its' title, you're sure of one thing: you want to hear it again quickly.
The EP's other two tracks are no less intriguing. "2Stranger" again boasts a weird, brooding atmosphere and initially comes across like an unholy summit meeting between PIL and Massive Attack, though this time the electronica pokes significantly through the ether and brings a bloopy, spaced and dislocated feel into play.
"Hindsight", by comparison, soon jars you out of somnolence with its' dirty, rockin' opening. Soon things again get tense and percussive, with a fine performance from drummer Shaun Keld holding things together. This time, it all morphs into a crystalline ambient section before the guitars paw at the ground and slowly dig their way back in. A second lengthy workort, it will confound if you're after a quick pop fix, but is so disciplined it'll draw you in quickly if you like your bands to flaunt ambition and scope.And, as somene who's just credited Oceansize as recording one of his albums of the past year, this reviewer has little problem with that.
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The "Immune" EP, then, contains deep, dark waters that may put off those with a short attention span and an aversion to danger. However, if a challenge stimulates you, then dive right in, as this swimming ground is full of exotic creatures you rarely see glimpses of with a young band's first serious release.
Immune? You won't be for long.
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