LIVE IN TORONTO

This was the first thing I heard from this duo and it serves a great introduction to them. A free download on their Bandcamp page, this was recorded in a small club in Toronto and the sound quality is decent for such a setting. You hear all kinds of audience noise such as cursing and some appreciation for marijuana. The actual performance is stunning, as it's hard to imagine just two people making all this complex racket. There is some use made of samples, loops and different kinds of percussion. No vocals. The song titles are wonderfully absurd, or in other words great.

Generally the music is fast and complex but once in awhile it slows down to a either a riff or a laid-back post-rock vibe. "When The Catholic Girls Go Camping, The Nicotine Vampires Rule Supreme" has a nice alternative/indie riff for the last half. A great guitar solo as the other guitar parts are looped. "F**king Ants Man! Where Are They Coming From? (Let's Hang The Carroll Footnoteitsists)" changes quite a bit and is one of the better songs here. "I Am S/H(im)e(r) As You Am S/H(im)e(r) As You Are Me And We Am I And I Are All Our Together: Our Collective Consciousness' Psychogenic Fugue" has a really cool chamber section with what sounds like bells and violin-sounding guitar. This is followed by weird sounds and sampled talking.

"It's Easy-eeeee To Be Full Of S**t And Look Good In Black" has a nice bass-like part on guitar that is looped. Drummer goes into a straight forward 4/4 beat which is a good contrast to the math-y guitar playing. The title of "DRGNFKR" is missing some vowels. Very complex track. Lots of twists and turns here including some reggae-rock. Gets more sedate and calm in the middle before rockin' out in a slow groove. A good introduction to the music of Giraffes? Giraffes! 3 stars.