growing

Color Wheel

From initial harmonic ramblings and flirts with noise on their two Kranky albums to experimentations with psychedelic form on their Troubleman released 'His Return' and now to deeper, dirtier sounds on 'Color Wheel', Growing are a band that are clearly uninterested in treading water... or treading sludge at least. Released on Mogwai's Rock Action label in the UK, this is their finest moment to date - a combination of the dirty metal sounds they have always been threatening and the pastoral ambience that they're just so damn good at. I read in an interview recently that the duo once shared an apartment with ex-Earth and Melvins chap Joe Preston, also known as Thrones - they said he didn't teach them a lot, but gave them subtle hints at making their sound, you know, deep. Well it shows, they've got the sounds and the styles to out-drone Earth when they want to, but they avoid mere parody by injecting something that is unique. It's metal but it is anything but aggressive, and anything but dark. It worries me actually, as metal for most people (me included) is interesting precisely because of the darkness, and when you take that away what exactly are you left with? The noisier parts are frightening and powerful, the drones are deep and moving and the ambience is involving and lulling. Anyone who has enjoyed records from Sunn o))) or Earth while harbouring a desire for Tim Hecker, Fennesz or even Brian Eno should check out 'Colour Wheel' without delay, it's really quite wonderful.