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Sweden Sept./99
Originally translated from Swedish by the reviewer: From Toronto in Canada we bring you Partsunknown. They show (for me) a new side of Canadian music. It's a side that to a larger extent look at British influences like Wire, the Fall and Joy Division rather than American, with Pixies as one possible exception. The opening and very promising "Verdant Green"reminds me more of electronic rockers TransAm though, with its nice mixture of guitars, electronics and a marvelous bass line. Except from on this track and a few others, they have an almost punky attitude to the music. That comes partly through the way Derek Westerholm is singing - which really reminds me more of London 1978 than Toronto 1999. "Last Reincarnation"(sic) is with its more poppy approach heading in a few different directions at the same time with a very positive result as a direct consequence. "Amuse" is much more intense and explains why the band sees the Fall as one of their major influences. The sixth track (no title) which slowly fades away after only 40 seconds reveals a somewhat more delicate band with even strings thrown into the mix. To a large extent a big surprise but a really nice one. "My Brain Disconnects" is said to be one of the suggestive track and I can only agree. The initial Sebadoh guitars are combined with weird tempo and guitar changes to a very enjoyable overall structure. Westerholm's vocal is here a bit more laid back and which works really good. "The Tearing Down" starts in a very calm pace but transforms into a wonderful energy kick, in the same way as the Talking Heads used to spin our heads on a occasional basis.) In general it's the intense parts - the tracks filled with tension and dynamics that stand out as something original. Most of tracks are quite complex and includes different levels which nicely illustrates the band's ability to both look 20 years back in time and still very much be here right now. Partsunknown can be sorted into the field, which already include bands such as Wire, Talking Heads, the Fall, Wedding Present, the Ex, Prolapse, Pixies, Devo and Joy Division. As you can see it's not an easy mantle to wear with dignity, but Partsunknown wears it rightly with a big amount of self-confidence. The mantle might still be a bit too big but that's another story. Mats Gustafsson The Broken Face Sweden |
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