Bliss Forged in Dread
Red Measure open up this new EP, No-One's Face, with a creepy, dead-eyed riff that slowly sways in front of you for close to a minute like Salma Hayek in From Dusk Til Dawn before singer/guitarist Randall Suarez opens his mouth to drawl, "with nothing in mind/your losing your voice". It's one patient and concentrated three minute opener. Deep Six is similarly sparse and meticulous; built on a three note motif, further dense lyrics and a rising sense of disquiet: "bliss forged in dread", indeed.
Skin may be beginning to crawl at this point and closer Dark Tongue Gel's dark sci-fi video confirms that feeling by featuring a tethered and claret splattered protagonist struggling against his bonds in some sort of lunar dungeon. The razor slashing riff comes out on top of a relentless Moe Tucker drum beat. Suarez sings like a tranquilised Josh Homme while the rhythm section of David Kanbergs on bass and drummer James Albright purposefully tenderise the song into submission like a stripped down Melvins. Suarez is on misanthropic form again with lyrics such as, "Come to me. I've got a sale for two. I've got obedient dogs. For you to consume. Sit and storm. In a cold, dark room." No-One's Face is cold, calculating and a pleasure from start to finish - we should keep an eye on Red Measure.