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Last
Day of Summer is both, a split and a collaboration between
England’s sky gazers Sons of Alpha Centauri and West
Virginia’s Treasure Cat which is a project featuring
Karma to Burn guitarist William Mecum. If you are
somewhat familiar with the sound of these bands you will
probably be able to tell who plays which songs without
having to look at the booklet. And then there are the
three songs in which both acts collaborate. They are
scrambled in the sequence, perhaps as an effort to put
both bands in the same plane. The truth is they are not
really playing in the same field. Sure, both bands can
be lumped in the stoner rock bin, but while one is an
instrumental riff crazy rock and roll affair the other
one is more willing to experiment and simmer within the
stoner, the psychedelic and the post metal.
The songs in
which both acts collaborate (under the Alpha Cat nom de guerre)
are not as much a blend of sounds as they are Karma to Burn
songs featuring the cats from Sons of Alpha Centauri. In a
situation like this,
that is bound to happen. The sound of one is destined to dominate the other’s. If it is a push and
pull situation I am not certain, but judging by these tracks the
American boys dominated in “The Flying Dutchman” as the song
steamrolls with peak heavy guitars and lighthearted bluesy
harmonica. “Fire” actually rises like a nicer blend of both
extremes. It is more rocking than what SOAC have us accustomed
to but there is a bit of leftfield idiosyncrasy somewhere. Turn
this fucker up and it gets exciting. The song “Last Day of Summer” on the
other hand leans to the SOAC camp. The tune rocks hard and with
zero pretension.
The Treasure
Cat songs are very similar in attitude, tones and spirit to
Karma to Burn. But that’s to be expected. There isn’t much to
“Dresden” but the KtB trademark sound, that where the drums roll
nicely and the guitar sound drops. “On a Clear Day” sounds
almost shy, like the song that could have been but never was.
Sometimes restrain is a virtue even in riff crazy bands. Sons of
Alpha Centauri on the other hand fly high with “Tribute to
Harmonious”, sound a bit like a Karma to Burn tribute band on
“Under Surveillance” and remain pretty grounded on “Exhaust” and
“Crossing the Border”.
Treasure Cat MySpace
SOAC MySpace
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