On ‘You Make Everything Disappear’ the Trade Wind supergroup is most certainly outside the (dis)comfort zone of their members’ respective bands Stick To Your Guns, Stray From The Path and Structures). They have ventured not so much into post hardcore, as into the crushing pain of postrelationship, after
singer/guitarist Jesse Barnett’s recent break up.

This collaboration, founded on tour and continued via email, produced an EP, ‘Suffer Just To Believe’ and finally came to fruition on this emotionally raw soundscape. It is intimate, melancholic and at times aggressive, yet makes for a thoroughly compelling listen.

‘I Hope I Don’t Wake Up’ gets things off to a rocky, but slightly disjointed start, although its air of darkness and the haunting piano fade hint at what is to come. ‘Radio Songs’ and ‘Grey Light’, for example, are two darkly atmospheric moments, the former being a lovely reflective track with a smooth groove that builds to a crashing finale, the latter a rolling melancholy reminiscence of stark beauty. The delicate piano melody and tender vocal of ‘Untitled’ also creates a similarly intimate sorrow filled atmosphere.

This may be a serious record dealing with the trauma of a difficult break up, but there’s room for a little fury on the more post hardcore tracks. ‘Rare’ broods with an aggressive vocal and grinding riff, while ‘Lowest Form’, is one of the stand out moments, its alt-electronica underpinning spacious guitars, with urgent rhythms sharply contrasting the downbeat vocal, the gathering wall of sound and anguished screams make it an outstanding track.

It is clear from the open wounds on display that a great deal of emotion has been poured into this record. As such, it merits a little intimacy, so turn down the lights, kick back and drift away with its beautifully intense catharsis.

4.5/5

‘You Make Everything Disappear’ EP by Trade Wind is released on October 7th on End Hits Records.

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Words by Edward Layland (@EdwardLayland)