The sound of Melkbelly is one that feels like the Nineties. I say that not to imply some retro thing here on PITH, the band's newest record, but to suggest that the group's music nods in the direction of that of earlier eras, when American acts could take stylistic chances and make loud stuff that was also tuneful. Lots of PITH, out on Friday via Carpark Records, is loud. And lots is tuneful, if not obviously so.
"Sickeningly Teeth" raves up and down like Belly stuff, while "Little Bug" rips a lot of pages right out of the Breeders song-book. Elsewhere, "Humid Heart" is catchy, while "Kissing Under Some Bats" is not. The players get a bit lost here in this near-prog rave-up, but most of what's on PITH is a good deal more accessible. While "Flatness" suggests that the band can modulate things a bit, "Stone Your Friends", a highlight here, roars just enough to be extremely wonderful.
PITH is out on Friday via Carpark Records.
More details on Melkbelly via the official Facebook page.
[Photo: Ariella Miller]