Under The Radar
Review: Guilt E.p. 7.5 / 10
Auckland is slipping back into dark 80s dance rock and the new champion is 1995. Their new EP Guilt has managed to capture a sound of bleak urbanness whilst keeping a good energy that would certainly close the staunchest of arcs at an Auckland gig.
The songs are quick and snappy with an excited urgency, but it's not until the vocals come in that 1995 show their cards. There's an intensity that increases as soon as the chant/sing vocals lay down their orders. Bands like Gordons even Devo spring to mind but with a bit more bite. Have a listen. Recommended.
THE KITCHEN SINK // THE LISTENING POST
1995 Guilt EP (Isaac / Independent)
Featured tracks:Red Forest, Getting' Brainz
There seems to be an overload of bands using numerals as monikers or track titles at the moment. 1995 hail from Auckland and despite the numeral thing, they have a unique sound & manage to pull off an original 5 track EP release. Imagine The Horrors mixed with Bailter Space and you might be close. 1995 have gathered quite a following in the City of Sails, which looks set to grow to other regions and then who knows? A long-player is promised before too long also.
DJ LOTION
EINSTEIN MUSIC JOURNAL
LIVE REVIEW: Sherpa E.p Release Party
Then finally the moment I’d been waiting for. 1995 crept to the stage and began their swamp rock, sludgey dark art pop. On CD they have a taut intensity to them, their riveting haunts and bone-rattling crispness accentuated. I found their live show largely faithful to their recordings, with the tight songs and driving rhythms brought to life on stage. Almost intimidatingly staunch in their uniform image and blank expressions, they seemed intent on mirroring the bleak post-industrial state of post punk’s bloom with their apocalyptic post punk rock. It’d be depressing if it wasn’t so energetic, tight and to be honest, fascinating. It was almost relieving to see front man Matt crack a smile at times; the whole band was so stoical, a wall of impenetrable noise. Their music really benefited from the concentration; their rhythm section was one of the sharpest and most impressive I’ve seen. They could have tipped over into being another ‘industry’ band, but in a twisted turn of events have had an unfair amount of criticism dumped on them. Social politics aside, their music is well-formed and they’re intent on improving, and it’s something I look forward to seeing.