My favorite demo of 2010: Ides of Gemini
The best demo I heard last year came from an unlikely source: a musician on break from being sidelined by volcanos and injuries, and America’s most popular metal journalist.
The former: Sera Timms of Black Math Horseman (interview), who last year was foiled by (a) Eyjafjallajökull, en route to Europe and Roadburn, and (b) actual road burn – a motorcycle accident involving a band member.
The latter: J. Bennett.
I reviewed Ides of Gemini’s The Disruption Writ for an upcoming installment of Decibel‘s demo column. But I did such a bad job – some writers (e.g., Robert Christgau) wield 50 words well; I am not one – that this post is an attempt to redeem myself. Also, it is an excuse to bring you good music.
This is not something I usually like – lo-fi, sort-of-black-metal-influenced. But like its creators, its unlikely parts mesh perfectly. I wish Bennett would tune his guitar. And Timms loves reverb to an unhealthy extent. But all this doesn’t matter. The result, from the sound to the hand-cut, hand-numbered, hand-assembled packaging (details), is honest and magical. Dive in –
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A label-ed release is forthcoming.
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IDES OF GEMINI LINKS
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