EP Review: Enola Gay - 'Casement'
Sounding like a twisted abrasion of Irish bedfellows Fontaines D.C and Gilla Band who seemingly engulfed the entirety of Death Grips' back-catalogue, enters Enola Gay into the fray. With one EP under their belt, they're looking to turn a few more heads with their enigmatic follow-up, Casement.
If you're somewhat of a bonafide in the punk circles, you may have heard a thing or two about Enola Gay and their live shows. Tenacious in style and uncompromising in sound, Enola Gay's rather large hat has been thrown in the ring as one of those next unique punk voices to watch out for - both in terms what tracks they lay down and what venues they rip up on the road. Their recent EP release, Casement, is anything, showing a band unbeknown to following the herd. Following up from their rather lavish debut of Gransha, Casement follows in its heady footsteps with scintillating lead cuts, Leeches and PTS.DUP, continuing the argument on what Scrappers left us with. Lead vocalist Fionn Riley's venomous Hip-Hop lyric lavishings are still ever-present met with a tungsten wall of guitars and left-field techno that tip into an unfamiliar combo of delight.
While the first half is very much an Enola Gay we're used to, Casement doesn't follow the same pathing. Instead, we're left with a Jeckyl and Hyde affair of experiential firma - a somewhat introspective fork in the road. A not-so-trodden path into the weedy unknown. Continually pushing themselves sonically and keeping the rest of music in a state of bewilderment, they had shown what they can do with heavy. Now, they wanted to show us what more they can do, as they constantly push the means of what a punk band can be.
With Irish electronic producer and Berghain veteran Neil Kerr, Mount Palomar on board to help with the latter half of this EP, the basis for the new two-part son was made when Fionn's folk musings came up in conversation. With that, the stripped back acoustic tracks were melded and severed from traditional Irish folk to what you hear now - a somewhat abstract shoegaze electronica; swamped with sounds that aren't entirely easy to place.
Detailing their latest track, “There’s a case to be made that Irish folk is punk music in its purest form, songs for and by the underdogs of society. Feeling like it is the right time to broaden our sound, we want to offer something unexpected so we turned to our good friend and mentor Neil Kerr, Mount Palomar." Soon after Neil sampled terra, firma was soon born right after.
In keeping with their highly unique sound and inventive knack to strive on, it's no wonder that they're one of the most promising acts to emerge out of post-punk right now. Having caused havoc at Chicago's Riot Fest this year, the band are soon set to return for this gig season by going on a sprawling November tour, including Key Club in Leeds and Underworld in London. If the likes of Iggy Pop are backing these guys on his 6Music show, then these are those kinda folks not to be missed.
Words by Alex Curle
