Review: Fugitive Forces | Scorched Signals | Blazing Beacons LP by Five Second Burn

M U S I C
Fugitive Forces | Scorched Signals | Blazing Beacons LP
Five Second Burn
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‘Five Second Burn’ is the latest London-based project by ex-Hamiltonian Rob Talsma and English guitarist Chris Ayles. Talsma is best known here as the drummer from ‘Inchworm’, but may also be remembered as a member of ‘Inspector Moog’, ‘Tobermorie’, or any one of several other 1990s Hamilton bands. In 1999 Talsma left Hamilton, along with Scott Brodie of Inchworm and Grok, for London. There they formed Girlinky together, as well as a new incarnation of Grok, both of which also included Ayles. With Scott Brodie’s return to New Zealand, and the associated dissolution of the London-based Grok, Talsma and Ayles have continued together as ‘Five Second Burn’. The pair have recently released their debut album, ‘Fugitive Forces | Scorched Signals | Blazing Beacons’.

Despite their ‘Five Second Burn’ moniker, the album itself is one of those slow burners, taking a few listens to even begin to fully appreciate.  Stylistically, the album seemingly does not owe greatly to the sound of the members previous shared bands, but of course there are elements that are reminiscent. The songs are certainly less overtly poppy than those of Girlinky, and being dominated by guitar and drums are quite removed from those by Grok. Further, Talsma’s drumming appears to have become more simplified through time, although echoes of ‘Inchworm’ can be heard in the more complex rhythms of the songs ‘Adrenaline Adjustment’ and ‘Hand Model’.  Both of these songs are also among the most accessible initially, and provide a good starting point for anyone wanting to give the album a go.

Overall, the album contains twelve songs, all around the two and a half minute mark in length, which combined provide a very listenable and coherent collection. That is, this is an album by a band that already seem to know who they are and how they want to sound, and it is definitely worth checking out. The album is freely available via Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, and elsewhere. Ian Duggan

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