Mike Law of Wild Arrows is interested in bringing big ideas to the big sound of post-punk. With earlier bands EULCID and New Idea Society, he achieved some success, but the brash and energetic rock of Loving the Void, the new Wild Arrows record, is certainly proof of how to do this sort of thing succinctly and with a hefty dose of passion.
"Silent Film" marries a motorik rhythm with the elements of punk, while the superior "Crowded House" takes that a step further, adding in bits of Eighties Iggy to the mix. Those recall for me songs by Girls Against Boys, while the sleek "Almost Like Oblivion" made me think of early NIN a bit. Mike Law takes a lot of risks here, and Loving the Void loses a focus a bit due to the tonal shifts, but overall it's a sharp record, one which, in its best moments, suggests new ways to incorporate electronic textures in material that's harder than some contemporary indie.
Loving the Void by Wild Arrows is out now. Details below.