SUPERBASS !!!! (BLACK DEATH GREATEST HITS VOL. 1)

Giraffes? Giraffes! is a math rock duo with SUPERBASS!!! being their debut album. The album is fairly typical of the genre, so fans of Don Caballero, Russian Cirlces, and similar bands will find themselves quickly at home. Typically dextrous drumming and slightly distorted guitar patterns form the band's sound with a few extra bells and whistles here and there for accent. The recording is clear, without alot of extra processing or over correction, a "live in the studio" combination of good sound but organic feel.

I've listened to this album over and over as it works well on repeat and is relatively short. While it never really gets old, there are also no tracks that leap out and grab my attention. Every time I put it on I remember "Oh yeah, this stuff!" There's a playful energy and make the sound much more fun than alot of post-rock, but not a lot of danger either. It's not as manic and certainly not as scrubbed as Battles, and there are no vocals other than a few spoken interludes.

Of course the greatest irony on this album is that there is no bass. I don't miss it and the two musicians have no trouble at all filling up the space left over. Both are very good in this style, and neither lack soul in their playing. Overall, this is simply a very solid example of standard math rock. Easily recommended but non-essential.