24 Hour Service Station » Posts

'Ghosts In The City' 24 Hour Service Station   By: EDDIE THOMAS / http://www.subba-cultcha.com

It is immediately obvious to those of me with any ideas or understanding of the structure of musical history which has led us up to this point that History have something of a fetish for Fugazi. From vocalist Matt Caron’s Ian MacKaye-esque affectations to their song structure, it’s clear that when they decided to form their band they had a very clear idea of whom they would be basing the template of their sound.

This is something of an unfortunatism as once you get past the inevitable Fugazi sheen which covers everything on this album like an overwhelment blanket forged in the underground punk movement of Washington DC, there is a genuinely interesting and creative band struggling to get out. One with almost the same force and presence of Dischord Records types Fugazi… don’t you know. There are many aspects of Historys’ sound – from their penchant for some crucial flute to the rather endearing Moogish keyboards – which don’t owe so much to the obvious point of reference. These aspects weave themselves beautifully into the rest of the musical landscape, demonstrating that once you take the trouble to delve, there is much to be commended about their work. And at least the derivative bits are written and delivered with as much verve, aplomb and thought as the original lot managed. If they can escape, even to a small degree, from crowding themselves so totally into this ready-made sound and find a little more room to let their own work blossom of its own accord, we could be hearing a really special band. Finally, kudos to them for song title of 2008 so far – “Brake Threw Hour Wall Sew We Can Sea Wear The Rats Arrgh” – loving it.