{"id":8815,"date":"2015-07-07T15:09:48","date_gmt":"2015-07-07T15:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/album-review-gulfer-what-gives\/"},"modified":"2018-03-21T22:16:12","modified_gmt":"2018-03-21T22:16:12","slug":"album-review-gulfer-what-gives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/album-review-gulfer-what-gives\/","title":{"rendered":"Album Review: Gulfer – What Gives?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
\nNo-one can accuse Gulfer<\/b> of resting on their laurels. Barely three months after the release of their split with Del Paxton, Montreal\u2019s noisy math-rock\/emo heroes are back with \u2018What Gives?\u2019<\/i>, an album that may be short \u2013 just seven songs long \u2013 but which is big on personality and charm. <\/figure>\n

Sounding like all your favourite gruff punk bands had spent far too long listening to Owls or This Town Needs Guns, \u2018What Gives?\u2019<\/i> is an interesting mash-up of intense face melting vocals and gorgeous math-rock textures. As a disciple of both genres, I\u2019m enamoured.<\/p>\n

What Gives by Gulfer<\/a><\/figure>\n

The first thing you notice \u2013 especially on the first couple of listens \u2013 is just how dense \u2018What Gives?\u2019<\/i> is. It maybe only seven songs long but there\u2019s so many flourishes and changes of tempo and intensity that even the most complicated of double albums would struggle to match it for sounds and textures. Take, for example \u2018Battlefield (Most Of My Time)\u2019<\/i> which starts at barely a whisper before building to a glorious, repetitious, noodling finish. Throw in a wonderful, parping American Football style superman trumpet (something used to great effect throughout the album), some gang vocal harmonies and an amazing math rock breakdown and you have all the ingredients of a killer song. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a similar trick replicated brilliantly on the other songs. The result is an album that possesses a gorgeous ebb and flow. At times powerful and intense, at others contemplative and reflective, it switches between the two with effortless ease. Songs such as \u2018Trim it Short\u2019<\/i>, help to propel it forward at pace, but then you find yourself in the achingly beautiful interlude of \u2018Altalalaval\u2019<\/i>. It means there\u2019s an artistry to the pacing that is often neglected, making \u2018What Gives?\u2019<\/i> an album that you want to enjoy from start to finish rather than dipping in and dipping out.<\/p>\n

That said, Gulfer<\/b> are masters of taking you through their repertoire in a single song, and closer \u2018Almost Sterling\u2019<\/i> is the best example of this. It sounds like it was concocted with magic, such is its otherworldliness, yet the powerful, emotionally driven vocals keep you hooked as it drags you through its winding journey. It\u2019s thrilling stuff \u2013 much like the rest of the album.<\/p>\n

My only criticism is that I wish there was more of it. Even though many of the songs clock in over the four minute mark, \u2018What Gives?\u2019<\/i> constantly feels like it\u2019s over before it has even started. If there\u2019s any truth to the adage of leave them wanting more then take a bow Gulfer<\/b>, you\u2019ve just nailed it\u2026 <\/p>\n

4\/5<\/p>\n

\u2019What Gives?\u2019<\/i> by Gulfer<\/b> is out now on Texas Is Funny<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Gulfer<\/strong> links: Facebook<\/a>|Twitter<\/a>|Bandcamp<\/a><\/p>\n

Words by Rob Mair (@BobNightMair<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

No-one can accuse Gulfer of resting on their laurels. Barely three months after the release of their split with Del Paxton, Montreal\u2019s noisy math-rock\/emo heroes are back with \u2018What Gives?\u2019, an album that may be short \u2013 just seven songs long \u2013 but which is big on personality and charm. Sounding like all your favourite […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":14481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[5280,15022,3947,5281],"class_list":["post-8815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-album-reviews","tag-gulfer","tag-rob-mair","tag-texas-is-funny","tag-what-gives"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAlbum Review: Gulfer - What Gives? - Already Heard Staging<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"No-one can accuse Gulfer of resting on their laurels. 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