AA.VV.
The Paperchase Meets Red Worms' Farm

First release for the RobotRadio Records project, which proposes to pair an Italian band with a foreign one on a split-CD: here we find the Padua-based Red Worm's Farm, one of the leading names in our indie underground scene, and the Americans Paper Chase, the group led by John Congleton, already producer of the post-rockers The 90 Day Men.

Our locals offer 3 pieces of captivating high-quality indie rock (pop?!) reminiscent of the early Fugazi (like "13 Songs" and "Repeater," to be clear...), mainly due to their ability to strike at the heart without resorting to overly intricate paths yet still never banal. Among more recent names, they recall Trail of Dead, with faint emo scents from afar...: the drums build a solid framework upon which loud guitar slashes rise with force and precision (never for noise's sake) and a decent vocal delivery that you already know from the first seconds will explode with fury and passion: all elements are essential, never excessive, to craft these little gems that describing as pop-sounding is not an insult (the melodic side seems to emerge more in these few pieces than in "Troncomorto"), without regressing in terms of power, also thanks to a decidedly natural production.
Also interesting is the remix of Jelly Bean by Giulio Favero, ex One Dimensional Man (already collaborated on "Loser My Religion Vol.2") and increasingly at ease with computers and productions.

A big question mark, the Paper Chase, difficult to pin down both for the nature of their music and for the significant stylistic differences between the tracks presented here.
Sinister and bristly is the music of I'm Your Doctor Now: an intro of gurgles and loops, a backdrop of drums and keyboards, and then Congleton's voice, unfolding through an unusual and diagonal melodic line, all of this without breaking into obvious refrains, making you feel like something is missing, but you don't.
More aggressive and impetuous is the second track, both in terms of vocals, reminiscent of the suffering and distress of the Jesus Lizard (tears, blood, and brain), and for the intertwining of guitar and keyboard distinctly noise-infused, sprinkled here and there with jazz fragments.
The third act completely surprises, a remix by Chris Godbey, which takes us into entirely different atmospheres, a sort of laid-back and relaxed indie pop (with the "jazzy" keyboard touches still present...) worthy of the best tradition (Mercury Rev, Karate, Cure).

Finally, it's worth noting the presence of 2 video clips, one for each group, made with economical means (live photos and computer) by Nicola Fontana, aka Founthead, and the nice comic-style packaging created by Alessandro Baronciani.

In short, an interesting album, a good start for this project which we hope will continue consistently; if I have to choose a winner between the two, well... this time, albeit narrowly, our guys win: honor to the three Red Worms.

PS. Go see them live if you can, then you'll understand...