TV Ghost - Cold Fish (2009) [In The Red] // Grade: B-

First things first: there is nothing catchy about this album. No hooks, no prominent melody, no singalong vocals. Indiana post-punk TV Ghost is one of those bands you discover at a show in someone’s basement and become totally obsessed with by virtue of their energy alone. Something in the raucous-to-danceable-and-back-again rhythms is just too much to resist.

It doesn’t hurt that they obviously love The Birthday Party, The Cramps and Antioch Arrow, probably in that order. There’s a serious early 00s synth-punk thing happening on Cold Fish, but it’s more about psychobilly and creepy surf than violent new wave a la Le Shok. “The Network” may be anchored by a familiar thrashy dance beat, but the ominous harmonies and moan-and-groan vocals give it a fresh, uber-creepy atmosphere. Same goes for other standouts “Seasick”, with its sleazy, cabaret trash riff, and the frenetic surf guitars on “The Singularity”; there’s nothing all that new here, but something in the deep, dark nightmare of it makes the best songs addictively good.

The rest of it, however, is a little boring. Once the album hits the 13-minute mark (the entire thing is just over 25), it becomes clear that TV Ghost used their best material straight away, like an overzealous runner who forgot all about pacing. It isn’t until the last song (and title track) creeps in on a slow, explosive build that Cold Fish circles back to its original spirit, but by then it’s almost too late. Short enough for a full listen, but don’t bother coming back to the second half. Save those songs for a sure-to-be-amazing house show somewhere in Indiana.

- Rue Sauvage