The Recommender

The genre of math rock always did sound like the future when it first arrived out of America’s midwest a couple of decades ago, before it evolved into its modern form, with the British act Foals or the New York-based Battles heading up the underground alt-rock scene in the last few years.  It should come as no surprise that this futuristic genre has returned and is seemingly ever more fitting to modern life with each appearance.  It enjoyed a short hiatus between Foals albums, but now seems back stronger than ever with Manchester’s Everything Everything turning it into something ready for the overground, taking the intricate jazz rhythms and moulding them into something beautiful and harmonious from its earlier foundations.  This evolution is joined by Cast Of Cheers, a four piece from Ireland, adding yet another country to the math rock map.  They take the genre’s signature staccato, rapidly-knocked beats and follow it tap for tap with the high guitar notes.  We imagine the tablature of this music to look as impossible as reading hieroglyphics in a sandstorm, so heaven knows how they get through the recording process.  We’re glad they do if the efforts produce music of this quality.  Why do we love it so much?  Well, there’s a theory that suggests it’s to do with the way in which our brains work.  The thoughts inside our minds are not linear, but are instead a rapid firing of neurons that are jumping about all over the place.  Therefore, when we listen to the off-beat and half-beats of math rock it sits better with how our brains like to digest information.  As I said, it’s just a theory.  Either way, it still requires a shit-load of skill and creativity to carve out something so complex, let alone make it enjoyable and melodic.  Bloc Party nailed it pretty well, but that was more down to Matt Tong’s extraordinary ability with the sticks and so they only really dabbled in this end of the rock spectrum.  Cast Of Cheers are slap bang in the centre of the movement and with tracks such as Goose and Strangers they even pour in stories of love and hope alongside the clever arrangements.  The outstanding track, Auricom, is so layered with beats that you can literally select to follow any one of them and find a groove to fall for.  Their arrival comes as our attention currently finds itself on Ireland and it’s burgeoning post-punk scene, with the likes of  Jogging and Not Squares also opting for maximum power.  As if their music isn’t forward-thinking enough, Cast Of Cheers have also gone and released their debut album, Chariots, for free on their Bandcamp page, so head there for more. Like. Now.  Our culture’s evolution is so subtle that you won’t ever feel like you’re in the future, for it will always be your present, but the progression of music can transport you there in an instant with the likes of The Cast Of Cheers.   (MB)

Find them here:         Myspace

Hear them here:         THE CAST OF CHEERS – AURICOM

Hear them here:         THE CAST OF CHEERS – DECEPTAPUNK