‘No Brain, No Pain’ may be something I’ve said about myself on a few occasions before but it’s now being pushed into my own ears by local art-rockers SPQR with their latest four-track EP. They’re a band I first encountered live towards the end of last year before seeing them three times in two weeks after being hugely impressed with my first outing to catch them live. Still, new work brings the opportunity for a change of approach – would that be the case with my own local heroes?
Well, there is definitely a focus on other areas than they’ve mainly looked at before. There is a slightly different approach musically, with an almost post-punk approach at times on ‘No Brain No Pain’, certainly in regards to the bass approach, best represented in the likes of EP opener ‘Nuthin Gud’ with a feeling that encompasses the more subtle parts of Joy Division or the more modern alternative bands such as Interpol. The vocal harmonies that permeate their previous works remain just the same, if anything enhanced by the delicacy that they often show throughout t
This is not to say that the EP only has the more mournful approach mentioned above, though for anyone with their roots more firmly in the camp of ‘Josephine’ this will not be maybe quite what you would expect from this talented act. ‘Just Sumfin’ works extremely well as a bridge between the two approaches that mirrsor the musical direction on this particular EP. Nor will you get anything quite as in your face as the likes of ‘Or So I Say’ from previous EP ‘The House That Doubt Built’, though not in any way at any detriment to themselves as they demonstrate that they are far more than the off the wall art rock that they’ve accomplished so well before.
Title track ‘No Brain No Pain’ feels quite different from the rest of the release as while the bass line keeps driving the song on, it’s a rather different feel, almost bubblegum clashing against their usual art rock which feels like I imagine being struck in the face with a rather large tuna with a sponge to soften the impact would. Add in EP closer ‘Loves Summer’ which meshes in their vocal harmonic approach so well and encompasses what they’ve done so well both live and in a studio before and we have a rather remarkable EP which demonstrates that both individually and as a collective that SPQR are capable of even more than they’re already previously shown. While it does embark on a slightly different path than they’ve previously trod in the main, it’s done in such an authentic and able manner that you can’t help but see this group going somewhere good if they continue their current trajectory.
- ‘No Brain No Pain’ is released today (Thursday 30 April). You can get your copy HERE.
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