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Free Blood
The Singles
Rong Music / DFA Records
Since forming in 2003, Free Blood has released its music in small doses. The band started sharing its music in live settings only. When songs were finally recorded, they were released as three 12-inch vinyl singles on U.K. label Adventures Close to Home. Perhaps Free Blood was afraid people would not be able to handle its chaotic party sound in large doses. Luckily, listeners now have the chance to take a risk with the six songs and five remixes found on The Singles.Free Blood is Madeline Davy and former !!! vocalist, John Pugh. The duo takes it a bit easy on the first track, “Never Hear Surf Music Again”, allowing listeners to warm up. The song seems harmless with Pugh’s whispered vocals and soft percussion, but the first lyric hints at the mayhem that Free Blood is about to unleash.
“There must be some fucking chemical that makes us different from animals”.
Whatever that chemical is, it has a strong presence throughout the album. “Never Hear Surf Music Again” hits a high with screeching violins and strings that sound to be flying all over the place.
Free Blood mixes a lot of different elements, but the overall sound is collected and catchy. The lyrics are phrases that partygoers could easily remember and shout out while making their way across dance floors.
With laughter in the background and Pugh and Davy trading off vocals, tracks sound like recordings of a schoolyard. Free Blood embodies the energy of hyper children, and the music is spastic. It’s similar to Hella and has infectious beats comparable to LCD Soundsystem.
At times it might be hard to differentiate Free Blood from Pugh’s work in !!!, but a few more listens reveal a more funky and free-spirited tone. Most of the remixes on The Singles are glum and do not offer the songs a distinctive contrast; however, it would not be a bad thing to overdose on anything Free Blood produces.
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