An Experiment on a Bird In The Air Pump

anexperimentonabirdintheairpump

Joseph Wright‘s 1768 painting An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump* depicts a white cuckoo being suffocated in a glass vacuum. Onlookers are alternately transfixed, frightened and apprehensive — the legacy left for a trio of young Londoners who create music which is captivating and at times disconcerting in its brevity and primal intensity.

The track ‘Lights Out,’ which can be heard below, is one minute and eight seconds of pounding drums and over-driven bass beneath sweeping vocals. While there’s not a lot masking the influence of original post-punkers Lydia Lunch, Teenage Jesus & The Jerks and even The Birthday Party, the band also reveres Nirvana, and their debut EP These Sins features a cover of Sonic Youth’s ’100%.’ Whether you listen because you like a little guttural rush with your musical appreciation, or if you just want the chance to reference somewhat obscure no wave, this is vital new music.

These Sins is available now through their myspace profile. The band is playing in France before returning to the UK to play a series of dates including Camden Crawl and The Great Escape festivals.

*Dossier does not condone animal testing in any form and the only birds we want to see in pumps are Agyness Deyn, Kate Moss and maybe Karen Elson.

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