aaamusic | On 28, Oct 2012

Given the current trend of two piece bands springing up this way and that, it must be something of an annoyance to that most classic example of the pop two piece, the synth-pop duo, that they’ve kind of fallen by the wayside in that discussion. Severin are a South-East London based duo seeking to change all that by sounding like a less chaotic Crystal Castles on this, their latest single. By and large it’s a success, a slow burning stomp with a deeply unsettling, ambient intro leading into an arresting, icily dramatic song flecked with shards of guitar notes and whomping sub-bass. It’s all seriously impressive stuff but therein lies the problem, it’s very impressive but also very difficult to truly love, the kind of electronic pop that generates stroked chins and approving nods rather than actual, y’know, dancing. This could be just be me not responding to the darkness of the track but even in the works of the aforementioned Crystal Castles there was some emotional depth at work, it was the kind of emotions that would scar lesser minds but still, there was something to make it truly memorable, like the artists had put their soul into it, not just their minds. Still, there’s enough creativity here to ensure a cautious thumbs up from me, and it’s more than enough to prove that it’s not just guitar and drums combos making impressive, exciting music in this day and age.

★★★★★

Will Howard