Album Review: Just Mustard - 'Heart Under'
Dundalk quintet Just Mustard return with their second album ‘Heart Under’ which arrives four years on from their critically acclaimed debut ‘Wednesday.’ The new record builds on the atmospheric Mogwai meets Warpaint vibes which were ever-present on their first effort.
In the four years since their first album, the band have worked their socks off trying to rid themselves of the Shoegaze pigeonhole they once found themselves un-voluntarily plonked in. Now it feels like they’ve managed to witness protection themselves away from their former life and have the confidence to forge their own path which allows the music to go off in its own direction rather than just doing figures of 8 round an all too familiar circuit they’ve outgrown.
‘23’ gets the ball rolling with drawn out strings ringing out menacingly over off-beat drumming from sticksman Shane Maguire. You feel immediately immersed in the world Just Mustard are creating and it’s a track that you already look forward to playing again long before the final note has been struck.
Track two ‘Still’ opens with a sound reminiscent of a car radio struggling at the first sight of the countryside before powerhouse drumming takes over the airwaves. The contrast of gentle dreamlike vocals woven in amongst a wall of noise works really well for the band as it gives them a distinct sound. It would be so easy for the vocals to try to match the chaos and intensity of the engine room, but by going off in opposite directions they allow each other to co-exist without becoming a busy mess.
‘Seed’ is a song full of attitude and it feels like it would be a complete animal live. The reverb guitar rips through the track like a chainsaw as swirling ghost-like vocals from Katie Ball float in and out of the mix like a passing spirit.
‘Early’ is another epic track which could be the pick of the bunch on first listen. The Warpaint similarities I mentioned earlier are quite evident here with the disciplined drumming, wailing guitars and possessed vocals. Perhaps the most accessible and commercially friendly of the record is ‘Mirrors.’ The horn-like guitars and National-esque drum rolls work in unison to form one of the most memorable and infectious moments of ‘Heart Under.’
Final track ‘Rivers’ is fine, but it doesn’t really tell us anything we don’t already know by this point. Other than that, as a piece, it’s hard to pick any potholes on this album. There’s a real familiarity which binds all of the tracks together and allows a seamless flow to the LP. This could lead to some slightly less invested listeners suggesting there’s not much variation across the piece. For me though, I think there’s enough distinction, but the tracks all share similar genetics which form one big slightly troubled family.
All in all, it’s a captivating listen which will undoubtedly offer more and more on each visit.
Words by Richard Cobb
