Click Click - Skin and Bones

Oh what the hell, let's go for broke, here's the latest EP from Luton's finest: Click Click. Do you know them? No, why would most... the last official album they put out was 1997's godlike 'Shadowblack' which was a mercurial excursion of tripped out atmospheres and deviant synthesis. The band's core are the two Smith brothers, although if both are on here I have no idea as the credits reveal no names. This certainly sounds like the pair of them, and a song such as "Limb From Limb" is propelled along by break neck beats coupled with the vocals we all know and love so much so they probably are. Adrian Smith provides the throat, if you want particulars although for the life of me I swear I can hear elements of his Paperhouse and Skripglow projects bleeding all over this damn thing. This is no bad thing, mind you, if it compels more people to check out what he's done under these monikers. They revisit a song from their backcatalogue (no 242 jokes, please) on 'Skin and Bones' and I have to say, it demonstrates how timelessly forward facing Click Click's sound is.

I'm speaking, of course, of the classic cut "Damage". They remove the programmed bassline and insert an actual one which is nicely fuzzed out and heroin fueled. I want to rate this thing higher but I cannot because I know this bastard is merely an appetizer of further work from my favorite pair of Polyrhythmic Experimentalists. You don't get to do this, boys, you don't get to tease me with a song like "Left For Dead" and then pop back into the ether. I've heard the latest Skripglow and now I want an actual Click Click album. They did 'Shadowblack' in a month's time, they can stomach one another's presence long enough to put down a complete album. Sporadic shows have been played in Europe to rapturous acclaim; I know they'll never come here but goddamnit 'Skin and Bones' is not enough!

There are only three actual new songs on here, true, but the remixes are absolutely unhinged. "From Your Mother to the Grave" pulls apart the entire composition of "Damage" reducing it to a diabolical, malevolent diatribe with those trademark Click Click percussive touches being brought out through the magic of digital technology. They haven't done work this sparse before (as Click Click, mind you) and it is a nightmare zone we're shown with Adrian's vocals being cut and diced up then looped around over and over again while dissonant cymbals crackle like the plates of the Earth groaning hungrily for our flesh. "Weapon of Choice" chills my blood with some killer fills on the skins being obviously calculated to reduce this take on "Left for Dead" into a primordial invocation to pick up your knife and jam the blade all the way in. Get your fill then come back for more, this one gives the repeat function on my player a reason to exist. 'Skin and Bones' is a vitriolic breath of poisoned air and burns my lungs going down.

When the clangs and clunks of modern IDM become a bit too indulgent, I suggest you put those albums down and try to keep up with this lean, mean killing machine. The inhumanity! A faceless mechanical beast is on the prowl. Watch closely and you might see the quiver of movement in the tall grass as it stalks you, don't ever relax or let down your guard. Eyes wide open running for your life; "Skin and Bones" is a pure adrenaline ride; no escape no excuses, no regrets. Jan 05 2012