Czechoslovakia - Hvst

Czechoslovakia - HVST

Bajkonur rec. - 2019

Indie, noise, grunge, shoegaze

Rated: ****

A little different from our usual fare, drifting in from Gdańsk, Poland in a haze of noise and melancholy come deceptively named trio Czechoslovakia, who play a fittingly tricky mix of indie pop-rock covered in waves of harsh distortion on their third LP HVST. Playful melodies bounce and glide under a thick coat of screeching, grinding fuzz, topped off with ghostly vocals adding to the eerie and wistful proceedings. At the more rocking range of Czechoslovakia's sound is album highlight "wstyd" (Polish for "shame"), with its driving drums and repetitive riffs building an energetic groove alongside haunting, echoing vocals. When the distortion kicks up a notch, the vocals respond in kind, creating a cavernous sound verging into noise rock. On the other end of HVST's spectrum lies "ciała" (Polish for "body"), laying down a simultaneously busy and languid drumbeat that would be right at home on an All Them Witches tune, accompanied by minimal, floating guitar. The track is an impressive mix of relaxing groove and toe-tapping beat, and is smoothly followed by closer "chwasty" (Polish for "weeds"), which brings the album to an operatic and melancholic end in a wash of lush noise. With HVST Czechoslovakia have built an emotional record that successfully joins sounds rarely found together, covering poppier melodies with a jolting crunch and wail of distortion to create one of the most unique releases of the year.

(Written by Kyle / Shastabeast)

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