I’ve bought to thank my oldest pal and live performance buddy, Tim, for turning me on to this one. Ashnymph is a London band that blends post-punk melodies with Krautrock rhythms and industrial grime. Their debut EP, Childhood, drifts between dreamy vocals buried in layers of reverb and four-on-the-floor dancefloor pounding. It’s an exciting opening salvo from a band that feels on the cusp of a significant breakthrough.
Childhood opens with an ambient recording of somebody strolling down a corridor (I believe), and a few swirling synth noise earlier than the primary track, “Island within the Sky” kicks off correctly with a motorik beat and bass throb. The skinny, digitally manipulated vocals and robotic groove punctuated with bursts of noise, however the massive chords of the refrain call to mind Black Insurgent Motorbike Membership’s “No matter Occurred to My Rock and Roll.”
“Saltspreader,” the band’s first single, is subsequent. It launches with a deep metallic grind splattered by clanking percussion and drum hits, earlier than a mushy synth arpeggio brings some melody to the get together. Within the again half, there are deeply chorused vocals that ooze ‘80s goth, driving guitar, and a disco stomp. Regardless of its gradual construct, it’s clear why the band selected this as their first single. It’s darkish, dancey, and an absolute earworm.
“After Glow” leans even additional into ‘80 fetishism, recalling Depeche Mode and early Ministry, earlier than Al Jourgensen found guitars. “47” marries industrial beats with chipmunk vocals and off-kilter guitars within the vein of No Wave acts like Swans. However the last-minute change to a half-time groove removes the extra abrasive layers, letting the great thing about the guitar melody shine by way of whereas ethereal vocals float excessive.
The final monitor, “Mr. Invisible,” is probably probably the most experimental of the bunch. It’s extra explicitly digital than the remaining, counting on closely manipulated samples, indecipherable vocals, and a relentless bass thump for the primary chunk. Finally, clearer vocal melodies and round guitar strains play off the polyrhythmic synths. The entire thing is disorienting, dizzying, and exhilarating. It ends considerably abruptly on a lopsided guitar groove and an echoed vocal, leaving me wanting extra. A lot extra.
