ALBUM REVIEW: Year Of The Horse – Cor de Lux
Every album is a brand new milestone for a band in some way: a debut record, a sophomore dare, or the first effort with new writers, members, or production. For North Carolina’s COR DE LUX, they are celebrating their very first full-length release with their new label, after being independent their entire career beforehand. Saying hello to a whole new world as a signed music act, with thanks to Ipecac Records, enter YEAR OF THE HORSE.
COR DE LUX pride themselves on running on pure sound, compositional creativity, and uniqueness in their art. A great example of this is The Cringe, a two-part tale that carries itself as another calm and lo-fi-like track before it heads into an extended period of guitar shredding and angsty projections of punchy vocals. The Cringe is more an art piece than a song to sit back and listen to casually. It was created to be savoured, rather than mass consumed and forgotten within moments, as it gives insight to what surprises and twists may lie ahead.
Further down the record is the catchy track Cannibals. This is one where teamwork truly is the key to success, as it puts leading duo Dawn Moraga and Tim Lusk side by side in one of the most fascinating ways. Their tandem vocals are heard throughout as they bounce off each other, either in a harmonious joy or shouting match of catchwords. Obviously this is not a one-off occasion of Moraga and Lusk taking the reins together, but Cannibals is one where it’s having the best and most beautiful artistic impact within the grand scheme of Year Of The Horse.
Near the end of the record is Long Face People, another experimental piece that brings together abstract lyrics, an organised chaos of noise, and a droning chorus of vocals mixed with Moraga‘s punchy verses. The song is a rollercoaster to listen to, being carried by a bouncy bass progression, it makes way for the grand finale of the entire album. An airy synth opening to one last post-punk offering from the American newcomers.
Everything comes to an end with the near six-minute fantasy that is Strawberries. As the album wraps up and reflection begins, it all becomes so obvious: the sound is fresh, the production is clean and crisp, and the band have put their collective soul into every minute of every track.
COR DE LUX are still new blood in the body of punk, finding themselves and their true art, and the efforts are not going unappreciated. However, they have at least come that bit closer to finding themselves and how they work with the help of their new label and the visible (and audible) support given for the creation of this record. So here’s hoping for a long, happy, and healthy relationship for the sake of COR DE LUX’s future.
Rating: 7/10
Year Of The Horse is out now via Ipecac Records.
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