CRYSTAL ANTLERS - Tentacles

On the heels of Pitchfork's 8.5 blessing/kiss-of-death for their debut EP, word came down the pipe that Crystal Antlers' first full-length was to be the last release from venerable indie Touch and Go. (No pressure.) Anyone looking for a Black Kids-style crash-and-burn will be disappointed, but they shouldn't be surprised. CA are clearly not a group interested in crossing over, and their trashy Comets On Fire by way of loud Oneida (or tamed Lightning Bolt) brand of psych frenzy fits well on the label that gave us The Jesus Lizard and Big Black, among many others. Trebly and cluttered, the album takes a couple of spins to fully decipher, especially when nearly every song is awash in organ and clipped, hoarse vocals. Once there, though, the wrecking-ball energy starts to take a sugar-rush hold, whose momentum is broken only by what turn out to be some of the best cuts on the disc. In particular, epic droning album closer "Several Tongues" not only contains some of the most affecting (if still undecipherable ) vocals here, but also a totally bang-on free jazz section. Well played!