Dead Horse One are a new eclectic four piece from France. Their bio says “their avowed aim is to be a Heavenly choir of jet engines filling the soundscape of the world with an endless extended note, wistful and melancholic.” There is no doubt they have achieved this aim and then some on this EP!
Alone is a psychedelic / shoegaze rock offering sounding somewhere between early Pink Floyd and Ride. There is a great hazy vibe while the quiet echoing vocals add to the songs mystic. He goes down sees the guitars get slower and heavier. There are all manner of layers of sound here creating a massive all encapsulating atmosphere while the vocals act more as a background instrument allowing the vibe to take center stage. In To Pretend, the shoegaze onslaught hits its climax, with layer upon layer of deep droning distortion pouring on top of each other creating a massive hazy sound that would give Sonic Youth a run for their money. The closing track, Cruel Winter acts more like the polished around the edges, slickly produced radio friendly tune. Everything suddenly feels focused and you can actually hear the vocals quite clearly. While this is quite a departure from the previous three tracks it works as a great pop tune that shows what else the band are capable of.
This is a great EP full of amazing textures and thick layers of atmosphere. It isn’t the most new or original music going round but the band really know how to create that hazy drone vibe and they achieve it effortlessly! If you’re after some early ’90s shoegaze nostalgia then listen to this!
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Check out the band’s Facebook page to find out more or check out the bandcamp page to hear songs off the EP.
