SIRS / Run, Walk! – Split – Single Review

Friday, October 7, 2011

Website:	www.facebook.com/runwalk or //topshelfrecords.com/tsr2/_pages/artist_sirs.php
Fans Of:	Battles, Dinosaur Jr, Gallows, Look What I Did
Label:	Holy Roar / Topshelf
Download This:	Buzzard Kill (River), Rainhouse edit
Genre(s):	Bass-Led Art Rock / Alt Punk
Release Date:	10/10/11

This latest joint offering from Topshelf and Holy Roar Records is a showcase of some of their best talent from either side of the Atlantic, a mixed bag of Math, Indie, Punk and more, featuring two bands that you probably wouldn’t find on the same bill over here.

When a group list their influences as The Band, Anti-Nowhere League and Electric Light Orchestra you know you’re either in for something special or they’re really taking the piss. Fortunately Sirs fall into the first category, bringing an assault of dissonant chords and unbridled passion. If you can imagine playing three of The Smiths records backwards, on top of each other, at double the recommended RPM, then you’re getting somewhere close to Sirs sound. This culminates in some very bouncy tunes with the odd scream and a jangly 90’s edge. I doubt you’d catch yourself humming any of them, but it’s certainly interesting listening.

Next up are run, WALK! a duo using only drums and bass (plus a boat load of effects) with a blast of surprisingly heavy and in-your-face math rock with quirky atmospheric moments, or ‘intense death drone’ as they like to call it. The production is absolutely spot on and I’m left amazed at how they manage to get such a full and expansive sound with only two members, I’d be impressed if they can pull this off live. Both tracks are deeply intense and definitely make run, WALK! a bit of a show stealer on this disc, one to watch out for in 2012.

With only 500 (marbled colour vinyl!) copies being pressed and the tracks being exclusive to this release I’d highly recommend snapping up a copy while you still can!