Time/Place Album Review

It seems like ages since El Schlong released their groundbreaking album The Baddies Are Coming in 2008. The band described that release as “like Satan in the bath puzzled by the ginger pube on the soap.”  Despite their quirkiness El Schlong is a band you should take very seriously. Their latest release entitled Time/Place is a veritable smorgasbord of audible delights, which I suggest you indulge in immediately.

El Schlong formed in Dunedin 8 years ago and are now based in Berlin, Germany. They are currently undertaking a fifteen city UK tour to promote the self produced Time/Place album, which was written over a couple of years the band spent in London and recorded in New Zealand late last year. The self-production doesn’t detract from listenability, but gives the seven tracks an unpretentious and enjoyable earthiness.

Thankfully Time/Place is a continuance of everything good about the bands previous releases, and then some. The sheer scope of the album buries the listener in a tomb of unequivocal musical bliss and must be experienced to be believed. EL Schlong’s preceding moments of awkwardness have been replaced by confident and proficient musicianship, darker and heavier than ever before.

Not only does El Schlong manage to incorporate many diverse genres, they maintain a unique and accomplished sound all of their own. From staccato harmonic riffs to blistering fast plucking interspersed with slow melodic paraphrasing that can only be described as gothic brilliance, El Slong’s musical ability within the metal spectrum is unparalleled.

There’s some seriously excellent technique but what really stands out is the arrangement of different elements within the songs, keeping your attention focused throughout. The juxtaposition of Middle Eastern scales coupled with blast beats and doom metal undertones with intuitive jazz inspired phrasing is cohesive avant-garde metal at its best.

Although the album is solid throughout, the song Number 42 has to be the highlight. The Mariachi trumpet interludes are a very nice touch between the well-executed death metal wickedness. Band comparisons are difficult but perhaps a blend of Isis, Mr Bungle and 8 Foot Sativa might give you an idea of the dynamics involved on this most excellent album.

The trio all take part in vocal duties and main singer Leah Hinton’s effeminate vocal delivery, contrasted effectively by her fearsome primal growl, is fantastic. Not many singers can handle an aggressive scream as well as a clean resonance, the former often meaning that the latter is unavailable. Nick Baldwin’s understated bass lines anchor the ensembles harmonic framework while Jordon on drums executes his chops with deadly precision.

To say I liked Time/Place is an understatement. Check it out.