COSMOTHER ~ BIG CHILL .... review

Koblenz, based German quartet Cosmother describe their sound as having "huge riffs, pounding basslines, thunderous drums and spiraling vocals" a statement which might lead you to expecting an onslaught of unrelenting heaviness. However while there is plenty of heaviness to be found in Cosmother's grooves do not let yourself be fooled into thinking that heaviness is all they bring to the table. The band, Laura (guitar/vocals); Marie (guitar); Sylvia (bass/vocals) and Wanda (drums/vocals), create a sound together that yes can get heavy in places but is also spacious, hazy and times shoegaze-ish, a quite fitting mix when you consider they have named their debut EP "Big Chill".

One of Desert Psychlist's guilty musical pleasures is listening to  the American alt-rock combo Warpaint and there is an element of Warpaint's use of colour and texture to be found in the way Cosmother construct their songs, albeit with Cosmother utilizing harder and heavier dynamics. Take opening number "Break the Ice" for instance, yes the guitar riffs are dark and crunchy but those riffs are never allowed to become overpowering, the two guitarists of course play an integral part in the whole but not to the detriment of the bassist and drummer whose role is just as equally integral in that whole, then you factor in the vocals, which are a mixture of soaring ethereality and lilting grittiness, and you soon become aware that you are listening to something pretty special and unique here. "Event Horizon" is up next, the song a sprawling six minute plus opus built around throbbing bass lines and a mix of thunderously tight and loose fluid drumming over which floating melodic lead and lilting backing harmonies swoon and sway, those vocals enhanced by a delicious blend of thrumming riffs and shimmering lead guitar. There is a doomic quality to the instrumental next track "Last Woman On Earth", a doomic quality off-set by elements not too far removed from those you might find on an album by Colour Haze or Causa Sui, undulating heaviness and haziness periodically pierced by sublime sparse and spacious lead guitar. "Martian Tribes" ties things up nicely with tribal beats and low grainy guitars creating a platform for an earworm vocal melody that'll be sure to stick in your mind for the duration of your day.

"Big Chill" is the perfect title for an EP that is both relaxing and captivating, an EP that has its moments of heaviness but also possess moments that are spacious and languid, music you could just as easily jump about throwing devil's horns to as you could sit back and allow to to wash over you.

Check it out ...

© 2024 Frazer Jones