Creating garage rock with a psyche rock aspiratory system, or is it psyche rock with garage rock blood…however you wish to describe it, UK rockers Los Trasgos Muertos have woven a seriously compelling encounter with their self-titled debut EP. Consisting of four-tracks which simply whisk the imagination away into a kaleidoscope of seventies seeded adventure whilst immersing ears into a web of bluesy sonic curiosity, the band’s first offering is quite simply a delicious introduction.
Los Trasgos Muertos hails from Manchester and consists of Captain Reed (bass/vocals/organ), Von Beek (guitar/vocals), and Il Fleishe (drums), three protagonists no strangers to each other from their individual time and experiences in varied bands over the years in their city’s music scene. Once united, the band whilst taking inspirations from the likes of Billy Childish, Thee Oh Sees, Hi Ho, and Ty Segall into their own invention was soon clutching a horde of songs ready for recording, which they did at Eve Studios in Bredbury. Now the sultrily flamed first encounter is upon us all and what a treat it really is.
It all kicks off with Fire In The Sky, a song swiftly binding ears in a spicy blues crafted groove and bass grumbles as beats flash their sinews across the senses. It is soon striding with tenacious energy and creative enthusiasm, hooks and the ever increasing lure of the grooves as tangy and contagious as the lively vocals and melodic endeavour. There is an earthiness to the song which easily grabs ears whilst equally there is a drama to every psychedelic clothed note and anthemic swing. The track continues to bluster like an autumn wind, warming the bones whilst offering haunting shadows and pagan like unpredictability.
The following Step One makes a less spectacular entrance but soon has senses and thoughts wrapped in its opening mesmeric melodic shimmer and vocal embrace. Soon a sixties beat feel adds 
it’s tempting to the garage rock stomp as the song hits the ground with a lively gait. As its predecessor the virulently catchy encounter swiftly ignites an even greater appetite and satisfaction whilst being relentlessly fascinating though its expectations defeating adventure, a quality which is even more exploited by It Rises!
The third track makes the best entrance of all, its initial slap of beats the trigger to a winy blues rock bred groove which coincidently is almost straight out of the major seduction that is the Karn8’s song Sick. It was an essence extraordinary there and just as irresistible here with its particular haunting colouring. Around it the smouldering tapestry of the song flows like sonic honey, sticky and flavoursome melodies gluing their lures to ears and emotions as the increasingly impressive vocals add their distinct spice to the brilliant proposition. Sometimes there is no escape from the touch of a song no matter what and here is one of the most stirring examples.
The release closes with the dark romance of Roll With The Punches, a track merging the garage punk of The Orson Family and the fuzzabilly styling of Eighteen Nightmares At The Lux with the garage rock styling of The Electric Eels and the psyche temptation of The Doors. It is an enthralling almost intrusive embrace of body and thought, a mouth-watering and riveting end to an outstanding debut.
The Los Trasgos Muertos conjure their own world and psychological adventure with their strangely familiar but openly unique sound; one already ears and appetite are impatiently waiting for more of.
The Los Trasgos Muertos EP is available from February 2nd
RingMaster 02/02/2015
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feet to life and has ears rigorously attentive. It is a thrilling encounter with brightly shimmering melodies within a smouldering climate of emotive and dramatic heat, reminding in some ways of fellow city kinsmen Bernaccia. Keeping the impressive start of the album going, the song moves over for the less immediate hugs of ballads For The Daughter and Border Song. Though both take time to seize thoughts compared to their outstanding predecessors, each explore enthralling landscapes of sound and intrigue to place a steady hand on a growing appetite for the release. The first is a warm yet haunting, almost funereal croon with strings an emotionally inspiring hue alongside the dourly expressive vocals whilst the second slips into an even more sobering atmosphere of melancholy and sonic radiance for a less successful but still enjoyable proposition.
a treat all the same; its steady but feisty canter evolving through a sultry slow flight of immersive keys before breaking back with increasing tenacity in energy and attack. The Birthday Party like song is an intriguing shadow blessed proposition, not as dramatically gripping as its predecessor but growing into another absorbing and incendiary involvement of the imagination and emotions.
Obviously Norway is your home, a place where different music seems to find a place but black metal and folk based styles seem to be what people most assign to the country. What is the reality as a band from there and have you found a ready appetite there for your blues seeded sounds?
mini-album saw its first ‘soft’ release to pledgers last November with an official release on the band’s own Akashic Records late January. It is a proposition which washes over the senses with melodic flames which seduce as potently as the almost siren like voice of Rasmussen, though she only leads the imagination into inciting adventures of sonic invention within evocative landscapes rather than any destructive intent. Opening song Outland instantly transfixes attention with an initial caress of thick sonic coaxing, a firm and strong yet gentle beckoning. With a darkly resonating bass tone joining in with the celestial caresses of Rasmussen’s delivery, a sultry air and heat envelops the senses as the band paint its intensive canvas. The track continues to drift and entwine around thoughts and emotions but with a bordering on exhaustive intensity and drama which enflames ears to imagination, passions to appetite. It is an immersive flight which challenges and seduces with equal strength before leaving the psyche in the hand of the closing glance of Instrumental: The Arrival, it a lingering spice which only increases the already awoken anticipation for the album as it closes the first song.
Superfood, Kobadelta takes little time to excite ears whether new or old with the opening seconds of first track Supernatural Cause. Drums and bass cast the initial temptation to excite senses with the guitar soon adding its melodic lures to the coaxing. It is an instant web of persuasion which seemingly draws on The Doors and Echo & the Bunnymen, an embracing enticement which smooches and dances with the imagination whilst the vocals of Dom Noble croon with expressive strength. Throughout its heated narrative and melodic climate, the song sways before and leans bewitchingly upon the emotions, the tangy sonic design by guitarist Alex Malliris and mesmeric charm of the keys from Jordan Robson a potent spice for thoughts and passions. The track is an exceptional entrance, one which simply gets stronger and richer over time marking the band out alone as something potentially special.