Les Savy Fav - Inches

Universal

March 14, 2008, 04:12 PM

Les Savy Fav strike a mace-shaped guitar through the notion of any genre.
But in the interests of writing a review I'm going to describe theirs as quirky-hardcore-disco-punk. Quirky being the operative word, with Hardcore following just behind, a close second.
Four years after its transatlantic release, we see 'Inches' released in the UK, which is their singles and B-sides compliation, bringing together all the features seena long the road trodden over the last 13 years.
Or in the words of the band themselves, time that was spent "missing out on cashing for over a decade".

The absolutely disjointed feel to this compilation is testament to their restless spirit and relentless energy. This is certainly an album to prescribe narcoleptics - just as they're about to nod off, the track will change and they'll be wide awake and enthralled for another few minutes, not knowing quite what's hit them.

At times they sound like The Mars Volta without the maths and with extra punch.
The aggression, abrasion, and downright phatness continues throughout, with zany guitar riffs, stomping drums, and repeated mantras that seem scrambled together on the spot using a combination of Boggle and crude fridge magnets. The songs wander, fade in, fade out, seemingly directionless - but in a very good sense, I add. The proclamation of "There's nothing accidental in this song", though, on 'Meet me in the Dollar Bin', lets us know there's a more than able driver to this good ship.

Rumour was that a recent 'hiatus' had turned into a moratorium, but instead we saw their appearance at last year's ATP followed by new album 'Let's Stay Friends' last September. And this summer promises plenty more showcases for their unpredictable live shows, with Barcelona's 'Primavera Sound' Festival among dates confirmed so far. Absolutely one to see.


Chris Thomas