Sightings – Through the Panama (Load) 2007
With the untimely demise of the Yellow Swans, I’ve been on the hunt for a new favourite band and I think I may have found it in this three peice from Brooklyn. Produced by Andrew W.K. last year Through the Panama is Sightings fourth full length. I have no idea whether this record is representatyive of their previous output, but I will say is this is the sort of avant rock which really works for me. It’s noisy, experimental but bases itself around normal rock song structure.
When I first played it last week the most immediate band that came to mind was the New York no-wave band Mars. I think that impression had more to do with the vocalist’s version of intimidating ambivilance rather thna the music itself. I suppose to use more modern equivilants, Sightings sit somewhere between the intentional obtuseness of Mouthus and the nihilistic, swaggering cool of Liars. The majority of the songs have vocals (with lyrics even!). The first two tracks bely the strength of Through the Panama as an album. Both sound like post-punk infused no-wave updated for the new millenium. Even when they do a Yellow Swans style drone/noise excursion (on Cloven Hoof) Sightings really hit the mark.
Live 2008 Rhode Island
July 4, 2008 at 8:12 am
Sightings are absolutely one of the best rock groups around. And that’s all I have to say about that. God bless you Sightings.
July 6, 2008 at 4:24 am
sightings are booooooooooooooooooooooooring
July 6, 2008 at 5:33 am
ANDREW WK? Really?
July 6, 2008 at 5:36 am
Hey Seth,
Yep really. He went to school with the guys from Wolf Eyes and provided drums on the latest To Live and Shave in LA record. Who would have thought!
November 25, 2008 at 2:21 am
yeah that fortune dove ep is a trip…and the title track may be wolf eyes best moment