I'm a cautious music listener, dear QBiM readers, who is as suspicious of the music-journalist phrase "experimental rock" as he is of the best friend-trying-to-set-you-up phrases "nice personality" and "great sense of humour." Immediate response is usually a raised eyebrow and pursed lips, and a narrowing of the mind. In most cases, I'm usually right to go with my hunches.
Not so in the case of "experimental rockers" Feral Children, whose debut album, Second to the Last Frontier was released earlier this month. I admit that Feral Children wouldn't normally fall into my realm of musical taste, but there is no denying that these guys, from Seattle, Washington, have the musical chops to make these dense, claustrophobic songs work as music, and not just as some kind of discordant noise pollution. "Jaundice Giraffe" is an intoxicating affair, driven by a steady drum beat and an undercurrent of jungle-like sounds. "Saint" starts with a more traditional song structure, though it still moves ahead with unexpected changes in tempo, veering from one corner to another like a marble rolling across an ever-changing slanted surface. The album was produced by Scott Colburn, whose previous credits include Animal Collective and Arcade Fire, so that should give you some indication about what you'll be hearing.
Taking a walk with Feral Children will definitely satisfy the adventurous spirits amongst you. In any regards, I'm declaring this experiment a success.
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