Many things all at once, the new double single from Nashville emo quartet Khamsin is a dynamic, energetic tour de force.
Labelling this emo might actually be underselling it a little bit. Don’t get us wrong, it’s definitely a house built on emo foundations, but post-rock, post-hardcore, grunge, and shoegaze make up the rest of the framework.
Opening with Thousand Yard Stare, a song about the very real danger of “being radicalised through online right-wing pipelines”, the song feels urgent and necessary. In a time when the country of origin of the band is seemingly at its most polarised and divided, it’s crucial to raise awareness of the risks society faces.
In the words of the band Thousand Yard Stare, “tells the story of someone pulled so deep away from real connection they feel as if they’ll do anything radical for love”.
All the while, the music oscillates, ebbs and flows between pounding, spiralling, sprawling, and scenic. As the track closes, frontman Jacob Curry drawls “anything to catch your eye,” and we’re reminded of the lengths that people will go to, to sell themselves to us and indeed, to secure your soul. Special mention must be made of how the guitarists – courtesy of Curry and Eric Emling – gel on this one. Like two hearts beating as one, they blend seamlessly, complementing each other beautifully.
Abacus is tense as it opens. Sparkling but also sinister feeling, it throbs along, anchored by a rhythm section made up of Cole Harrison’s prominent bassline and Caleb Pierce’s expressive but also sturdy drums. Haunting and measured, it feels cinematic and atmospheric.
Interestingly, Abacus examines the feelings of inadequacy that Curry was dealing with after the release of the band’s last album. He explains, “I was proud of the album; sonically, we did everything I wanted the band to achieve, and we earned some important milestones because of the album. But being in a DIY band as you reach your thirties makes you evaluate success versus the demands of real life”.
As he asks, “Will it ever be enough?” we can’t fail to notice how both songs seem to be about struggle. One external and far-reaching, and the other, an inner battle, a war waged on oneself against a self-inflicted enemy.
These two songs are described by the band as “revealing the polar ends of (their) range” but actually we’d argue that they feel very much cut from the same cloth.
It’s also worth noting that both of these songs incorporate piano and synthesiser for the first time – coming primarily via the aforementioned bassist Cole Harrison. This stylistic addition and musical new wrinkle are emblematic of the band’s versatility and ambition, and changes like this one will ensure they continue to make compelling, captivating creations for the foreseeable future.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
