A Place to Bury Strangers revels in discomfort on Transfixiation. The NYCers fourth LP pulls from the trio’s usual obsessions – shoegaze, noise rock, 120 Minutes circa 1988 – with zero interest in making things easy. “What We Don’t See” puts a sing-along melody over a simple rhythm pulse, but intertwines it with seasick guitar. “Love High” shimmers brightly, but ratchets up the tension with an unresolved chord progression. “Fill the Void” and “I’m So Clean” rock mightily, but slather distortion and reverb on every note. “Deeper” settles into plush guitar feedback, cushioning the blow of leader Oliver Ackermann’s deadpan proclamation, “If you fuck with me, you’re gonna burn.” No easy routes, no beckoning hands, no relief. (Sun., 11:30pm, Levitation Tent)
This article appears in May 8 • 2015.
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Michael Toland started writing about music in 1988 on the Gulf Coast, moved to Austin in early 1991, and has inflicted bylines upon the corporeal and digital pages of Pop Culture Press, The Big Takeover, Blurt, Amplifier, Austin.citysearch, the Austin American Statesman, Goldmine, Sleazegrinder, Rock & Roll Globe, High Bias, FHT Music Notes, and, since 2011, The Austin Chronicle.
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