A very young band plays very classic noise rock.
Last year’s strong debut by Horsegirl showed that good old indie rock is very popular in Chicago. Lifeguard is the next hot name in town, the band released one album and four EPs on their own or with small companies. Now the trio are signed to Matador, and the label is doing us the favor of re-releasing the latest two EPs together as an album.
Nothing about Lifeguard’s sound is new, not the noise, not the sound of the drums, not the singing with its sometimes defiantly slacker, sometimes hyperactive attitude of denial. The line of influence starts with Can and other Krautrockers (a cover of the new piece “Hallogallo” was recently released as a live single by Lifeguard and the band Dummy), leads to post-punks like Mission Of Burma and indie rockers like Sonic Youth and Shellac to Punk bands like IDLES.
Lifeguards are particularly strong when they turn their inspirations inside out. The furious hunk of noise “Ten Canisters (Of)” has the intensity and pressure of an industrial pressing process: you want to get out of this song, but it holds you captive for six minutes.