I like following bands from the very
beginning of their career; from that debut twenty-copies-only 7 inch, to the
handmade EP, all the way to the fifth studio album, there’s something quite
rewarding about being there right from the start. However, as rewarding as that
may be, what brings me more joy is just stumbling over a band you, and very few
others, never knew existed, and this said band turning out to be great, ala Yndi
Halda and Gifts of Enola. It’s akin to the feeling Jermaine Jenas must
have every time he’s named in the England squad (obscure football
references are the way forward). I’m sure you’ve guessed this already, but
that’s what happened when I first heard the debut EP from Californian quartet Beware
of Safety.
Opening track ‘Kaura’, possibly named after
someone called Laura with fat fingers, could be plenty of other post-rock bands;
light guitar work and tremolo picking chime away, before a melodic riff takes
over. This could be Caspian, this could be The Timeout Drawer,
and it’s definitely straight-up post-rock of the highest caliber. ‘Weak Wrists’
takes a heavier approach, with a dark and sinister feel protruding throughout, which is somewhat reminiscent of Upcdowncleftcrightcabc+start. ‘The Difference Between Wind
and Rain’ and ‘Veneklasen’ show a much quieter and measured approach, with
shimmering guitars and delay pedals used to full effect.
What really comes across from all the six
tracks on It Is Curtains is the sheer emotions Beware of Safety manage
to convey with just its instruments and effects pedals. While not up there in
the realms of Do Make Say Think and Explosions In The Sky, Beware
of Safety are certainly following the right lines to possibly matching myriad
of feelings expressed by some of the big post-rock players. While that may be a
premature statement on the basis of one EP, if Beware of Safety can produce
more tracks like the closing ‘To The Roof! Let’s Jump and Fall’ then its place
among the post-rock harmony will be assured. Quite simply, it’s a brilliant
song. It uses the tried and tested, and much vaunted, ‘quiet/loud’ dynamic to
great success. Starting slowly, it builds into heavy-yet-harmonious riff, before
collapsing into a heart wrenching short breakdown, only for the riff to return,
this time with added tremolo picking for greater emphasis as it crashes towards
the finale. Mono could have written this track, it really is that good.
While Beware of Safety aren’t covering any
new ground here, it would be far too harsh and flippant to dismiss them as
generic, or merely copying its peers. Each track on It Is Curtains
sounds fresh, and for a band using only guitars, bass, and drums, that’s quite an
achievement in today’s post-rock environment. At the moment, the EP is one of
those lovely hand pressed self –released affairs, but it really won’t be long
before this band are signed, so, if you haven’t already, it’s about time you
went and stumbled upon a future post-rock giant.
-James Ould