Rat The Magnificent new album out 22 June 2018
Album release: 'The Body As Pleasure' by Rat The Magnificent
Release date: 22 June 2018
Label: TTWD Records
More info: Band website
- New single premiere 'Up The Street' with NPR
"Crank 'Up The Street' to a volume that shakes the dust from your creaky bones. Made stiff from years of rock and roll neglect, you are now redeemed by the nasty howl and stomp of Rat the Magnificent. Hallelujah and hot damn." - NPR
Made up of members of Family Manderson, Sunshine Republic, KLLR, Hot Sauce Pony, Modern Men and Brenda, Rat the Magnificent are a heady mix of obstinance and oblivion. Think an overlapping of a Venn diagram made up of Jesus Lizard, Sally Bowles, My Bloody Valentine, Slint, Oxbow and Son House and you’re in the right borough.
The trio’s cacophony of beguiling yet unnerving fuzz-laced experimental noise rock has earned the group a reputation as a must-see live act, having played with the likes of McLusky, IDLES and Adam Betts. Not least, they have also previously recorded with Steve Albini earning the rare would-be plaudits of “I’d have no problem with you being my house band.” Now with an EP and several singles to their name, Rat The Magnificent are set to release their debut LP, ‘The Body As Pleasure’. A collection of 10-tracks that fully encompass the raw, unhinged energy and dark melodic sensibilities that have garnered them much acclaim in the past.
However, like all strong drinks - the whiskey, the coffee - you need balance in strength. The core trio of Anderson’s open blasted guitar checks primitive tradition and bleeds into Davies’ evangelical bass and Dodridge’s fervent drum rhythms, providing a bed for Anderson to belie his vocals. Brooding in white hot intensity, the albums lyrical content tackles personal yet assimilable topics such as the immediacy of desire, animal magnetism, familiar high-stakes anxiety and trial by fire learning. Dexterous vocals layer often voyeuristic glimpses into both the bands misfortunes and success, backed up by oblique and often deceptively catchy instrumentation.
The band celebrate their influences in a caustic yet melodically conscious manner that is both familiar and new. The influences run fast and loose throughout the record, from the direct power and languishing darkness of Swans, Sonic Youth, Peaches and The Birthday Party, right through to 60-80s New York minimalism a la Tony Conrad and La Monte Young. Almost all of the tracks contain microtonal elements; from the bends in ‘Marrtalon’, to the rising synths at the end of ‘The For’, to the guitar gradually riding “out of tune” on ‘The Inevitable’ - The devil is in the details.
Recorded over the course of three years with Brad Hemsell, ‘The Body As Pleasure’ also features huge range of inimitable guest musicians, who add even further depth and dynamics to the record. Guests include: Ian Catskilkin (Future Of The Left, Art Brut), Jen Macro (MBV, Graham Coxon, Charlotte Hatherly, Hurtling), Stephen Gilchrist (Graham Coxon, The Damned, The Cardiacs, Vic and Bob), Jeff Fairley (Cheel Ghar) and Caroline Gilchrist (Hot Sauce Pony).
If you’re lucky enough to have heard Rat The Magnificent before or have even seen them live, then this incredibly strong debut effort should be instantly recognisable as a consummate and direct snapshot of the devastatingly efficient unit; armed with a pitch black sense of humour and celebrating their influences in an exciting and belligerent, yet discerning manner. If you’re still yet to hear them, then now is your chance. We’re not saying they ain’t hard work, but nothing comes without that.
Rat The Magnificent are:
- Perry M. Anderson (Guitar/Vocals)
- Ross Davies (Bass)
- Anna Dodridge (Drums)