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Degrassi | Terminal Ocean
Yet another outstanding band from Scotland releases their first EP.
EP, SL
Tekst: Sven Schlijper
Publicatiedatum: 01 september 2002
Edinburgh's finest rock outfit started gigging in 2000 after numerous changes in their lineup and their band sound. Degrassi has released their debut 4-track recording on the local SL Records label. And a stunning piece of work it is.
During the last two years, they played with a truckload of bands on their extensive touring schedule, with the likes of Snow Patrol, Aereogramme, and the Dismemberment Plan. A show at Scotland's big festival T in the Park was one of the highlights for this young band. Degrassi is now ready to take on the world, on its own. With a couple of infamous Peel Sessions already in the pocket, nothing seems to be stopping them. It's all there; it's all on Terminal Ocean.
Degrassi's live shows earned much respect and comparison to the greats of rock. Praise — maybe not too objective, and colored by a chauvinistic veil — brought out references like Idlewild, Mogwai, Fugazi, Pavement, and even mega-act Nirvana. It has to be said, though, that in the 2-plus-year existence, the musical direction changed quite a bit. Their "splintered or angular, and overtly disciplined sound has been traded off for a more melodic and far-ranging style, with Sonic Youth/My Bloody Valentine shades of sound moving over it all," as singer/guitarist Chris Bathgate puts it.
On their first recording for the public, the CD-EP Terminal Ocean, melody and pop song structure have been perfectly matched with post-rock, post-punk, emo white noise. The first track opens with a lush guitar lick leading into harmonic vocals and strong walls of distorted guitar layers. The jerky stop-go dynamics keep the tension right on, although the structure is quite predictable. The title track Terminal Ocean takes the same path, and the strong vocals are especially remarkable. This slightly stranger, yet still very melodic, rocker builds to a climax with a mid-song breakdown. After two rather pop-sounding rockers further into the EP, Emerald City is a very beautiful alt.rock, almost ballad with an awesome flow until the song explodes in sheer frenzy, Mogwai-style. Amazing! Closing track Air Force 1 is the true piece de resistance. The powerful and haunting opening sets the mood. And although the wall of guitars doesn't exactly come as a surprise, it hits like a ton of bricks all the same. The clouds seem to be moving in a summer breeze one instance, turning into a full-blown twister the next. Building layer on top of layer, it all adds up to form a devastating, dramatic, epic, sonic blowout to this outstanding EP.
Forget all aforementioned comparisons tagged to Degrassi by the UK press. Degrassi has proven themselves to be a band for the future. Combining the pop, melodic, and now-fashionable aspects of post-punk, called emo, with true post-rock anthems, this band is one to be reckoned with. Hopefully, mainland Europe will get a chance to experience the Degrassi live sets too in the near future. They wouldn't be out of place on the Lowlands Festival for starters... Until then, get your hands on this EP by one of Scotland's most promising acts.
http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/degrassi/terminal-ocean/1818/
Meer Degrassi op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/degrassi
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