Cowtown: Fear Of…
DL | Vinyl
Out Now
Long-term DIY heroes Cowtown return with their fifth album, Fear Of… Andy Brown shares his thoughts for Louder Than War.
Even if I wasn’t already aware of Cowtown, I’d still be intrigued by the cover of their latest LP, Fear Of… Why is Jonathan telling us to hush? What’s scared Hilary? And what is David really thinking? It’s the kind of cover that would make a committed crate digger pause and consider making an impromptu purchase. It also captures the bands sense of humour pretty well. Of course, you should never judge a record by its cover but Cowtown have the kind of discography that should inspire a little confidence in those tempted to take the plunge. Formed in Leeds, the Devo-loving trio have been making self-described “over stimulated indie rock” for around 20 years. The fact that the album arrives via the reliably excellent Gringo Records provides the cherry atop the deliciously DIY cake. Grab the cake knife because it’s time to tuck in.
Cowtown is a band made of three, music loving friends: Hilary Knott (keys/vocals), Jonathan Nash (guitars/vocals) and David Shields (drums). This friendship is central to the energetic positivity at the core of the band’s sound. However, the title of the new LP refers to a difficult time for trio. Post-pandemic, the plucky punks had an album in the can but were unsure if they should even carry on. Doubt had seeped into the band’s bloodstream. What would DIY music even look like after a worldwide pandemic? The band have also endured a series of personal losses since they put out their last album, 2016’s Paranormal Romance. Thankfully, the trio pulled themselves up and have just delivered their long-awaited fifth album. Hard times may have has subtly crept into the records DNA yet it remains an undeniably life-affirming affair.
Clocking in at just over 27 minutes long, Fear Of… really is all killer, no filler. The band make every second count, hitting us with an energetic barrage of riffs, hooks and melody. The whip-smart new wave of Devo remains a key influence while there’s a healthy dose of Talking Heads in the mix too. The title of the album appears to be a nod to the New York band’s iconic Fear Of Music LP. Swirl in a dash of the Pixies for good measure and you’ve got yourself a pretty enticing prospect. We start with the angular pop of Wonderboy II with Nash urging us to, “Reinvent your reason/ Reinvent yourself.” It feels like a new beginning; the band approaching 2024 with open arms and some much needed hope. And we could all do with a little hope, right?
Can’t Talk Now comes next and already feels like a well-established classic. Nash’s guitar bursts with the joy of invention, Knott’s keys have the Midas touch and Shields’ drumming acts as the bands beating heart. And oh my, when that pre-chorus kicks in: “Got my ears/ Got my eyes/ Got my sense of endless wonder.” Like sonic honey flowing into my grateful ears, the track blooms into something genuinely euphoric. Thru Being Zuul wastes no time delivering a two-and-a-half-minute blast of new wave energy. A dance-inducing, robo-riff banger. Offend Kliph is a little darker in tone with a real sense of restlessness at its core, “But I can’t move forward and I can’t move back.” The frustration is captured brilliantly with the tight, pounding art-punk instrumentation.
Total Engagement is an absolute thrill: taught riffs, an addictive groove and robotic voices on the chorus. It’s heaps of fun and rocks like a mutha flipper. It’s classic Cowtown. Fear Of… finds the band honing their sound while happily exploring new territory. As Close To Town As I Like To Get is one of the most subtly powerful tracks that they’ve produced. Emotive jangle-pop, melancholic tones and a beautifully understated vocal from Knott. It’s something I haven’t quite heard from them before. Humble Practitioner packs about as much excitement as is humanly possible into 72 seconds while No Excursions is practically bursting at the seams with nervous energy. A highly cathartic tune about reaching the end of your tether. Of course, there’s few things as therapeutic as music.
Sea Lions finds Knott singing about the precious pinnipeds with a track that sits somewhere between Kim Deal-led Pixies and Beat Happening. Geez Louise! This might just be the most blissful three minutes of music I’ve heard this year. The penultimate track – Peace In Our Time – reaches similarly ecstatic highs with Nash channelling his inner David Byrne. Currently Unavailable then proceeds to take us right over the top, racing toward a new dawn with a defiant sense of wonder in its heart. Fear Of… is a smart, tightly delivered LP and undoubtedly their most accomplished and satisfying record to date. The variety of tones and textures the band embrace in just under half an hour really is impressive. Most of all, Fear Of… is an album that wears its indie-loving heart on its sleeve.
If memory serves me right, I first saw Cowtown around the mid two-thousands – back when they all wore matching jumpers and had just released their excitable debut album, Pine-Cone Express. Cowtown have survived as they really are doing this for all the right reasons: namely they love music and enjoy making a racket together. I had the pleasure of seeing them at The Brudenell Social Club recently and – my gawd – they’re still absolute dynamite. The dynamic trio never seem to get the plaudits they truly deserve yet it’s immensely reassuring to know they’re still out there doing their thing. With love, friendship and enthusiasm, the trio are interwoven into the very fabric of the underground music scene. Viva la Cowtown!
~
Cowtown can be found on Instagram and Facebook.
Listen to and buy Cowtown music on Bandcamp here.
All words by Andy Brown. You can visit his author profile and read more of his reviews for Louder Than War here.
We have a small favour to ask. Subscribe to Louder Than War and help keep the flame of independent music burning. Click the button below to see the extras you get!
