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 Spermatic Chord (a pun on the biological term) have earned a following and a degree of respect in Hong Kong’s local band scene for their virtuosity and unpredictable live shows, which have ranged from stripped down guitar and bass sets, backed by electronic tracks, to shows with trumpets and synth-pads to add an exclamation mark to the core lineup. Four years after guitarist Adam Leung started Spermatic Chord, the band, through numerous lineup and stylistic changes, has put together a full-length studio album. The title Calculating Stupidity and the abacus on the cover are fairly appropriate for the acute math-rock that the disc has to offer.
The album opens with nearly eight minutes of a rhythmic, experimental jam (that could easily find its way behind Tom Waits) before leading into the main body. The songs on the record, all named for a number, shift between pop-faced tech-rock songs, such as “Five” and the fan favourite “Three,” to the aggressive, theory-jerking in tracks like “Sixteen”. Although some tracks are abrasive, it’s clear that the band is interested in preserving the melodic aspect. The guitar is frequently played clean and the chord progressions are often notably poppy and catchy.
The highlight of the production is Joe Watson’s remarkable drumming, driving each track forward and giving each song a unique punch. Vocal duties are mostly shared between the bassist, Uriquola, and, perhaps his polar opposite, Nicole Tung. Uriquola’s throat-shredding screams provide a tremendous contrast with Tung’s singing, adding yet another dimension to the intricate design within a Spermatic Chord song.
However, the album fails to measure up against the band’s live performances. The similarities in songs like “One” and “Three” become painfully obvious, and jams that are fun to watch become less fun to less fun to listen to. Despite this, Calculating Stupidity is definitely worth the buy, as it is the closest thing you can get to sticking the Chord in your CD player.
Official Site: http://chord.servebeer.com
Buy at:
White Noise Records
1/F, 4 Canal Road East
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
http://www.whitenoiserecords.org
Rendezvous Records
B23h Basement, Star House,
3 Salisbury Road,
Tsim Sha Tsui
Brown Note Rechords (Mail Order)
http://chord.servebeer.com/brownnote
B+
Review By: Indrayudh Shome
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