LOCAL MUSIC - Mouses ‘The Mouses Album’
Review by Patrick McConnell
Release Date: 23rd September, 2016
Rating: 3/5
For fans of: Ty Segall, The Black Keys
Mouses are a relatively new fuzz punk duo that have just burst their way into the public eye with a heavy distorted sound that strips back any unnecessary complexities from their music, leaving you with something that is new, but also very familiar and comforting. What I mean by this is that Mouses have made a name for themselves by staying within the world of catchy melodies and memorable licks that are what make pop music so irritating catchy. However with tracks like ‘Girl’ and ‘Algebra’, while being distinctly memorable, are still played with enough aggression and raw energy which makes this band’s sound such a pleasure to experience.
Mouses have, in small doses, a sound that is incredibly addictive and extremely fun. Their live shows appear to be mini riots, and their success is constantly growing given their recent appearance on the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading. On the other hand, it is Mouses’ sound that stops this album becoming something special. Their identity is built on energy and frantic melodies that start and stop at one hundred miles an hour, none of these songs pull away from that fuzzy crescendo that defines them so perfectly. This is part of the problem with the album, whilst the individual elements are enjoyable, the entire piece had no surprises or moments of deviation. Each song is very similar to the one that preceded it, consequently it becomes rather difficult to listen to the entire album, because by track six you think you’ve already heard the song before. Given that, the album could have been better assembled, and the individual songs are difficult to distinguish after half an hour of constant listening. This is not suggesting that Mouses are in anyway a band that should be ignored; they were the North East’s best kept secret for a reason. However, to listen to them in whole album setting means their sound is lost in itself, and has little opportunity to stand out.
Facebook: facebook.com/mousestheband