EHP 0.16: Transistor Transistor / Light The Fuse And Run split CD/LP [ purchase cd ] [ lp out of print ] Pressing Information: 2,500 CDs 500 clear 500 black LIGHT THE FUSE AND RUN throw at us four tracks of their gravity/dischord driving aggression. The record starts out with my new all time favorite LTFAR track. It destroys everything and will be stuck in your head for fucking weeks. If you liked the tracks on the split with HOT CROSS, then you will love this. Welcome to a collection of sounds that will have you at work in the pit, shaking your ass as well as your fists. The four TRANSISTOR TRANSISTOR tracks on here are some of the darkiest and edgiest tranny songs yet. They still feature the propulsive rhythm section, driving guitars, and Nat's sultry and sinister vocals. But these tracks offer a look at the dark side of TRANSISTOR. With the appearance of some additional instruments and a pretty hot recording. The tracks are a huge step forward from their initial debut 12" EP. TRACK LISTING: Light The Fuse And Run 1. We Are The House Fire 2. The Flitcraft Case 3. Mary M., 1:30am 4. How To Light A New York City Stove Transistor Transistor 5. Book Burning Committee 6. Cry Havoc 7. Two Plus Two Equals 4/4 8. There's A Fine Line REVIEWS: Deep Fry Bonanza (Phillip) Screamy hardcore bands are used to a warm reception in these here parts, particularly those on Level-Plane (City of Caterpillar, anyone?), and for the most part I'd say it's well earned. Seeing as I'm a little more in touch with the melodic side myself (I was, after all, hired on as an "emo" reviewer), the giddy endorsement that I'm about to issue should not be seen as yet another Deep Fry Bonanza rave about incoherent mind-numbing rock, because honestly I like my music very coherent and only sometimes mind-numbing, and I see neither of these two bands as such, even though that's how they could be labeled after an inattentive listen or two. Indeed, this split is the real deal, capable of pounding you to a pulp but not lacking in wit and intellect, so don't let any of your pesky predispositions keep you from the fine rock and roll present. Light the Fuse And Run bats leadoff, and they set quite a precedent for the rest of the songs to live up to with their first cut, "We Are the Housefire". Snot-nosed, belligerent, and rebellious, this song delivers a full-frontal assault of slingblade guitar stroking and athletic drumming that mixes the vitriol of '80s hardcore with post-Fugazi phrasings. The coda is downright epic, flailing its arms in protest and crying, "I'd let the flames rise high and let them light my way to whatever the fuck awaits me," with reckless abandon, and it's done justice by the staggering tempo. Follow-up "The Flitcraft Case" nails you with a vicious hook and some background screaming to complement the hoarse half-spoken vocals. The songs' concise punishment keeps the vocals from grating on the nerves, something you'd almost expect from this kind of delivery. Fortunately, only "How to Light a New York City Stove" strays close to tedium and annoyance, and that's largely due to it's four minute length. Despite this miscue, Light the Fuse still leaves a lasting positive impression, and their strong showing sets the bar quite high for Transistor Transistor... And any doubts you might have about their ability to measure up are annihilated in the first minute of "Book Burning Committee", as Transistor Transistor proves to be tighter than ever. This is clearly one of the premier aggressive bands in the underground today, and With each release they become more intuitive and rock-oriented, casting aside pretension and writing songs that will more than likely stand the test of time. "Cry Havoc" is the most overtly hardcore track, and even it sports some Sonic Youth-esque drumming and ultimately satisfies. And, best of all, Transistor Transistor does what any insightful band would do -- they wait until the end to show you what they're really made of. "There's a Fine Line" is a sexy, relentless smash-'em-up number with infectious refrain and provocative lyrics, and it might just be their finest moment to date; be sure to save a slot for it on your next mixtape. That last statement is the greatest justice that my words can do a song, and it doesn't just go for "There's a Fine Line", either. What really makes this release so refreshing is that I keep finding myself more apt to describe the bands as rock and roll rather than screamo or hardcore or even punk, as there's such an accessible, appealing sound beneath the gruff exterior. While every indie kid worth his or her salt seems to be keeping their street cred by going to '80s-themed dance clubs, wearing t-shirts of Mark Bohlan in some quasi-porn star pose, and refusing to listen to any band influenced by any act to come out since Kurt Cobain died, groups like Light the Fuse And Run and Transistor Transistor aren't just superb -- they're vital. This is historically-informed rock and roll, to be sure, and there's a chance that more refined future works by either of these bands could sit next to The Stooges and The Dead Kennedys in collections of seminal raw, abrasive rock albums, but these songs have the aggitation and immediacy of people firmly living in the now and believing that rock and roll has only begun to grow. Collective Zine (Andy Malcolm) Light the Fuse and Fucking Run! If you are going to listen to any hardcore band these days, it may as well be LtFAR, because they are ddddddddddddddynamite my friend. They manage the rather impressive task of cramming great melodies, harder parts, killer vocals and DIY into one compact package that is referrered to by a typical person as a band. And the 4 songs present on this slab do a great job of building on their immense 7" that came out not so long ago. If you are the type of person who thrives on ignoring reviews but loves simple comparisons then: Former Members of ALfonsin+Books Lie+Mike Kirsch. Distorted melodies and super sound ideals a-go-go. I simply can not wait to see these guys destroy live and dance myself silly. It is going to be the best. Transistor Transistor seem to have a new record out every couple of weeks, but I think this is probably my favourite stuff by them so far. They have a kind of melodic and dancey vaguely emo-ish sound, being pretty straight forward and catchy yet still utilising the kind of panicky (and sometimes screamy) vocals. They also bust out 4 songs and are totally adept at hitting a groove that would see me assume the dancing pose at a show. I like their urgency and their stuff is solid as ever without ever quite being amazing, although each song seems to have a stand out part that makes me perk up. Good band. Enough Zine (David) Two fine bands full of powerful hooklines and somehow anchored in the genre of progressive/post-hardcore contribute 4 songs each to this split cd. Light the Fuse & Run's part is extremely powerful and passionate. Danceable and varying in any respect. Transistor is a little bit more conform to emo/hc since they play a cleaner version with less hooks and complex song structures. Nevertheless, both bands go together extremely well. Another quality release hc kids should definitely check out. flexyourhead.net (Jason Scheurs) Split CDs are notoriously inconsistent, so it's a pleasure to announce that this particular split features two (count 'em, two) bands who don't suck. Light the Fuse and Run play amped-up, rocking hardcore that sounds like a cross between Drive Like Jehu and later Black Flag. Yup, read that line again and take notice. When listening to their four songs, I can't help picture them flailing around onstage like possessed marionettes. Great stuff. Next is Transistor Transistor who tone things down a bit for some chunky, mid-era DC-style emo-hardcore with alternating sung and screamed vocals. If I wasn't so tired, I might hesitate to peg this screamo; but, I'm beat, so screamo it is. Another excellent band to watch for. May I reiterate that this split CD features two bands who do not suck! Splendid (Steve Nelson) Light the Fuse and Run and Transistor Transistor are hard-to-label East Coast bands grounded in rollicking guitar-driven punk. Though there's no mistaking one band for the other, they are united by their willingness to expand beyond typical three-chord progressions, keeping their sounds fresh and entertaining if not unique. Light the Fuse and Run's half of the album is an exercise in melodic, punk-leaning rock in the style of Drive Like Jehu; the songs are short, and run together like side two of Abbey Road. You'll hear a lot of abrupt stops and time signature shifts within their songs -- just when you think you have a bead on them, they'll set off in a new direction. As a result of the jump cuts, "We Are the Housefire" seems heavier and faster than it really is. Likewise the rest of the set; momentum mounts steadily, culminating with the impressive "How to Light a New York City Stove", which builds from solitary guitar-strums to a borderline speed metal riff, and from there into a melodic instrumental break rife with tension and intrigue. Transistor Transistor's sound is heavier and more metallic, but remains heavily rooted in punk tradition; they remind me of Nuclear Assault. There's a simmering rage beneath their frantically-paced riffing, and vocalist Derek's performance increases in anxiety throughout the frenetic verses, culminating in "Book Burning Committee"'s screeched chorus. The pace quickens on "Cry Havoc", and the execution is similar, though no less enjoyable. "Two Plus Two Equals 4/4" adds an overbearing synth and a short-lived Joe Strummer-inspired vocal effort to the formula; the band deserves credit for trying to enhance your aural experience, but these embellishments seem like needless distractions; there's a perfectly good song beneath the synth layer, once the Clash posturing wears off. "There's A Fine Line" takes off in an altogether different direction -- the stop-start rhythm, paired with a very Fugazi-sounding vocal track, will make you forget the previous songs' strengths, and may leave you uncertain as to Transistor Transistor's "true" sound. There are two kinds of punk: the lazy three-chord aping of latter-day heroes like the Offspring or Green Day, that relies on a lot of whining, and the more original, artistic school that includes bands like Fugazi, the Minutemen and DRI. Light the Fuse and Run and Transistor Transistor are solidly in the second camp. Light the Fuse seem to be a little further along, maturity-wise, but Transistor Transistor are clearly an act to watch. Neither band disappoints here