polaroids of androids

May 4, 2008

Fuck Buttons
Street Horrrsing

8.8

Fuck Buttons' debut album features fifty minutes of some of the most brilliantly executed ear-bleeding, noise fueled, electronic chaos ever put to record. It's repetitive and hypnotic, yet wild and unpredictable to the point of being painfully addictive.

The opening track, Sweet Love For Planet Earth, rumbles into life, powered by a slow buildup of electronic fuzz. By the time the screeching, unclear vocals kick in the song has already been running for over five minutes. The controlled nature in which the chaos of Fuck Buttons is delivered, never more evident than on this opening number, is one the key factors that makes them such an enjoyable listen.

The jungle sounds of the second, and shortest track on the record, Ribs Out, is provided as a brief moment for the listener to somewhat regain their composure before being once more succumbed to an orgy of slow-grinding electronic-driven feedback via the 10 minute opus - Okay, Let's Talk About Magic. As with Planet Earth, the non-existent rhythm pattern is formed out of a blanket of noise. The drums slowly kick in and overpower the sharp static jolts, battling their way to the forefront of the music before once more taking a backseat as the indecipherable vocals come to the party.

The previously released, Bright Tomorrow, appears to break the cycle of blissful noise overpowering everything with it's pleasant, up-tempo synth opening. It's the glorious, peaceful moment of the relentless six-track album - or at least it seems to be - until the unexpected feedback rips the song apart and proceeds to severely beat the timid soundscape.

The blank canvas approach that Fuck Buttons take to their music is enlightening and oozes creative freedom. This is one of the most refreshingly original and surprisingly engaging records to touch my ears this year. It's not the smoothest ride and not a journey that everyone will find rewarding, but if you enjoy confronting music with a sharper, chaotic edge then you will find Street Horrrsing a pleasurable trek and music certainly worthy of your time.

Words by Jonny