Cursing explore the past and the future and the uneasy ways we transition between the two on their typically atmospheric new EP Chiral
Championed for the intense, atmospheric nature of their sound and their ability to seamlessly shift between tones and emotions, LA based indie outfit Cursing are a band that utilise their DIY roots as a way to elevate their sound rather than as a crutch that holds them back, making for a sound that has a raw and expansive feel, and their new EP Chiral, recorded entirely in a friend’s garage-turned-studio, really makes the most of that.
The EP opens with its title track, characterised by its punchy percussion and staccato guitars that hark back to tracks like Bloc Party’s ‘Octopus’, similarly heralded for its creativity and uniqueness. The off-kilter nature of the instrumentation is neatly contrasted by a powerful vocal performance that ties everything together effortlessly, with a fun Tim Robinson skit tied in for good measure.
There is a murkier and more atmospheric feel to ‘In Effect’, a track that once again showcases the ambition and creativity of their sound, tying it in thoughtfully with some catchier moments in a way that feels confoundingly seamless. ‘High Road’ has a swaggering slickness to it that embodies the same kind of suave appeal of Arctic Monkeys’ AM, dialling back on some of the album’s more mathy, post-rock tendencies for a track that has a more simplistic, gelled back smoothness to it and feeling endlessly cool as a result.
Themes like confrontation and avoidance are explored on the tetchy ‘Put It Down’, a track that fizzes with uncomfortable intensity and a high-energy feel that threatens to boil over at any minute. These atmospheric soundscapes that the band are so potent at creating are demonstrated expertly here, and it makes for a track with a really distinctive feel and vibe throughout its duration.
There is a nostalgic glow to the similarly atmospheric ‘What Is Done’, a track packed full of indie rock riffs and stylings that would fit right in at any point over the last 30 years of the genre, the track moves at a potent pace and has a bustling feel to it throughout. Something that sticks out throughout the EP is how short the tracks feel, such is the creativity and artistry and display that when the tracks end it often feels kind of abrupt and unexpected, leading to a tonne of replay value as nothing comes close to outstaying its welcome, with this track being no exception.
EP closer ‘City Limits’ is a track that opts for a moment of melancholy, reflecting on themes like growing up and outgrowing your surroundings in a way that feels potent and relatable, this makes for a listening experience that really sticks to you and leaves a lasting message as the collection of tracks come to a close. The larger EP as a whole is rooted in themes like change and the passage of time, and the way that the band have shifted the feel of their sound from more electronic territory to one that feels more guitar and rock oriented does a great job of mirroring that. Chiral is all about who you are and who you’re turning into, and it does a great job of creating an uneasy tension between the two.
