Creation Records legend Joe Foster reckons these guys are ‘redolent in many ways of Gong and the whole European freer and communal music movements.’ I’ve got a lot of time forJoe and respect his musical knowledge – how could I not? – but I don’t entirely agree. There’s nothing nearly as tripped out as Gong even at their tamest to be found here, but nevertheless, it’s a rich and varied debut.
The guitars swirl and jangle in multitudinous directions, and to different effects: from the tidal wave of ‘A Flock of Crows’ to the delicate, dreamy drift of ‘For Now We Live’, NCY’s Malka’s love of 90s shoegaze is clearly apparent. But it’s infused with strong elements of classic post-rock, with Explosions in the Sky making for an obvious – and fair – comparison. The vocals may be low in the mix, but their emotive tones add to the depth and power of the tracks.
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‘Mientras se Respira’ whips together all of the classic element of shoegaze – yes, think Ride, think MBV, think Slowdive – and yet creates something that’s fresh and compelling, in the dreamiest of ways imaginable. The woozy sparkle of ‘Corazon Sin Sangre’ is mezmerising and spaciousness.
What’s perhaps most striking about this album is its eclecticism, but it’s matched – perhaps surprisingly – by the pervading sense of cohesion. Above all, while they’ve evidently amassed a serious collection of pedals, Malka don’t hide behind the FX, and ‘The Constant State’ shows they’ve got some pretty decent songs.
Malka Online
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