Punch-Drunks – Big Nothing (Independent)
It’s temping to file Los
Angeles two-piece, Punch-Drunks (Noah Justin Trevino:
guitar/vocals, Devin O'Rourke: guitar/vocals), as folky-Americana, but after a
few spins of “Big Nothing” it becomes
obvious that their influences are far too diverse for such a simple
categorization. Indeed, previous reviewers have noted their “half
Cash, half Clash” split musical persona,
and artists as varied as The Everly Brothers and Pavement also seem to have
made an impression on the pair. The result is a sound that feels new and vital,
and on their latest five-track EP, both their songs, and the unpolished production
in which they’re placed, are well suited to their approach.
“Big Nothing” begins
with O’Rourke’s “Like a
Train”, a love-gone-wrong
lament, underpinned with what sounds like the metallic jangle of a national
guitar. Their languid country-blues captures the essence of the lyric completely.
They’ve only been playing together since the beginning of the year, but already
seem in perfect sync – like brothers, in fact. Indeed, “Howl” brings their
voices together, and they’re a joy, each adding lead inflections, while the
song tumbles to a close. “Nightingale” is the closest they get to a straight folk
song, and it works like a charm, and the EP is concluded with “The Devil's Inside”, a little twang is injected and the lyrics seem to ponder on the
acceptance of one’s circumstances – I think – wrapped up in an alt.
country-indie tune.
Phil S.
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