A Place To Bury Strangers - A Place To Bury Strangers

. Their music is every bit as dark as their name would suggest. From the reverb laden, pure post-punk opening of ‘Missing You’ (singer Oliver Ackmanns vocals eerily reminiscent of Ian Curtis) you realise this is a band that do not indulge in the brighter side of life. This is a band to help you through a break up. This is a band to see you through a cold, dark, unrelenting winter. This is a band damn near constructed for the coming credit crunch, that can represent the fear, confusion and foreboding sense of doom that is the modern world. This record has been available for nearly a year within the US but the label has been very astute in waiting until now. Despite its quality, this is not a record that would have suited the summer months. It’s likely it would have vanished with the merest hint of recognition, only then from critics. As it is, this album can be appreciated when surroundings match its tone.

So to the songs themselves. As mentioned, ‘Missing You’ comes off as a lost Joy Division gem, the energetic bassline leading the haunting guitar and driving the song forward. Ackmanns vocals are left deliberately murky within the mix, barely decipherable. Implemented more as an instrument through this album, the lack of clarity within the vocals can be a grating point. ‘Don’t Think Lover’ displays the influence of Nine Inch Nails, the mechanical programmed drums clashing with the sheer noise of the guitars. Throughout this album, the notion of chaos recorded rears its head time and time again. When you learn Ackmann founded an effects pedal company used by bands such as U2 and Wilco, this begins to make more sense. Every single element, every sound made and contained within this album is done so by extraordinarily talented musicians. A Place to Bury Strangers are the sound of chaos that is only just kept in line by the bands ability with their instruments. The precision with which the songs are driven forward, of every minute change in key, of every additional drum loop or guitar line added means this is a record to savour. This is an album that needs to be repeatedly listened to.

On this UK edition, five extra tracks are included. It’s best to listen to these outside the album, as at fifteen songs it becomes draining. Treat them like an EP and your enjoyment of the record will remain, ‘Sunbeam’ being the highlight of the new tracks and showing already signs of the new direction the band wish to head in. As it is, A Place to Bury Strangers debut should be listened to how the band intended it to be. ‘Ocean’ is a fantastic closer, a continuation of the themes running through the record, of disorientation and isolation. This is a very strong record, not an immediate one but one that needs to be given the dedication the band so obviously put into it themselves. If you’re willing to take the time to do so, you’ll have discovered one of the records of the year.