DEATH SEQUENCE

I'm unsure if it's with great purpose, but, not only does it appear their lineup had solidified to include then-new member Miles Spilsbury on sax and (like almost everyone else) synths, but all their roles are greatly simplified. Maybe I'm reading too far into this... Death Sequence indeed is a release that, when dropped, I completely missed. Technically their fourth release, this is their first EP, from 2019. In addition to the inclusion of new member Miles, we also have the first vocal feature by Stewart Lee on track 3. This is apparently (and truly actually) not your average vocal feature. Lee is a British stand-up comedian, of all things! Unless there's a mistake in the attribution of his feature on Spotify, this is the same Stewart Lee responsible for co-writing and co-directing "the West End hit musical Jerry Springer: The Opera." His likely connection here are his columns for music reviews.

Right off the bat, "Death Sequence I" opens up the album huge and strong, with the boisterous explosion we know they can bring but now featuring Mr. Spilsbury prominently on sax. A welcome component, for sure (I'm sure few would disagree). Things fall away to ambience, then to a wicked groove as we approach the middle section. This, too, features some very unique, almost industrial electronic elements. The new, again prominent inclusion of sax gives it a classic Eclectic Prog feel (like, say, KC or Van Der Graaf). At times, the sax screams atop rapid instrumentation. This is, still, Physics House Band at their finest. Again, forever impressed. I would love to see them with Black Midi or something...

"Death Sequence ii" comes right in, continuing another welcomed song cycle I'm now so prepared for after their second album, Mercury Fountain (2017). Far less assuming [It's still huge haha], but still an excellent showcase of their collective talents. I always mention him (or have thus far): drummer Dave Morgan is on fire. To reiterate from earlier reviews, definitely in the vein of Zach Hill, ultimately. Super modern, super exciting.

"Death Sequence iii" begins in stark contrast to the previous two, with soft keys and a hypnotic loop, bolstered by the solid, yet jazzfully loose, drums. This, too, is the track featuring Stewart Lee, providing a monologic echo: "I was the Duke of Solihull. So are you, So am I. I'm the Black Sheep of the Family." Again, a quieted track overall; until the end, a huge and rapid crescendo.

The fourth and final track is... mistitled here as "The Physics House Band"... but elsewhere it's "???" (Bandcamp) and "‽" (Spotify/elsewhere?). This is a short track, at under 2 minutes, and calls specifically mid-70s King Crimson to mind. Very groovy, yet very very dark. Awesome ending... Very sudden ending. Very sudden haha.

Despite my scores being the same thus far, in its tightness, I think it's their strongest, but just by a hair.