Lefthand - On Discovering Fire

  by Mark Rowland

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Label: 3rd Stone
Format: CD

intro

In recent years, Britain hasn't produced much in the way of innovative post-punk. Like with many new genres, the Brits have sat back and let the Americans get there first. Even one of Britain's most i

In recent years, Britain hasn't produced much in the way of innovative post-punk. Like with many new genres, the Brits have sat back and let the Americans get there first. Even one of Britain's most interesting bands, Mogwai, have their roots embedded firmly in Slint's jittery sonics. Make a list of all the post-punk/post-rock bands of the last ten years and you'll know what I mean: Fugazi, Slint, Burning Airlines, Jawbox and Tortoise were the first five that I could think, and they are , of course, all American. Thank God for bands like Lefthand. Appearing in 1999 with their vinyl only debut, 'Minus Eight', they showed that Britain could still do post-punk effectively, without taking from the aforementioned American bands. Instead their music contained elements of bands like Wire, Killing Joke and Joy Division. This time around, on the more accessible 'On Discovering Fire' (this one comes in CD form), Lefthand are letting their own sound come through. On Discovering Fire' undoubtedly initially rocks, especially on opener 'Accelerator' and even more so on 'Broken Machine', and then takes us beyond that into completely different territory. 'Lullaby' is surprisingly reminiscent of the dark guitar-hop of UNKLE, and has echo-ey harmonised vocals, while 'Lost in You' and 'Pornography' take 'Mezzanine' era Massive Attack to create dark, dubby punk with vocals that are sort of like a cross between Joy Division's Ian Curtis, Portishead's Beth Gibbons and Underworld's Carl Hyde. '6.66 hertz' sounds like the intro to a Beta Band song, albeit one stretched out for twelve minutes, with bass and drums kicking in about five minutes in in a very disappointing end to the album.. So, a few creases to be ironed out but really only one duff track then, but still a very accomplished and enjoyable album.

Track Listing:-