Led Er Est – Dust on Common (2009) [Weird] // Grade: B+

Before checking out this 3 piece tonight, if someone were to play me this record and tell me it was released by a Manchester post-punk band on Factory Records in 1980 I wouldn’t even think to argue. However, Led Er Est hail from Brooklyn and this is their first full length (and an impressive one at that) just came out late last year. Although they’re not reinventing the wheel on Dust on Common, they succeed in creating some authentically darkly tinged electro where so many others have failed. 

Dust on Common’s 9 tracks are characterized by minimal drum loops, droning vocals, melodic guitars and of course a cornucopia of nostalgic sounding synths. With this release Led Er Est created songs that would feel right at home in the opening sequence of a mid 8’0s slasher flick as they do on a dimly lit dancefloor. While their ability to pay tribute to the bands and era that birthed post-punk and various 80′s “wave” scenes is the album’s calculated drawing power, but it’s how well Led Er Est not only put their own stamp on the sound that not only makes this such an enjoyable album but warrants return visits.

If you ever delved way deep into the scene you’d soon discover that few of the original post-punk or wave bands were able to put out strong albums, sure there would 2,3 maybe 4 killer tracks. But few could keep that intensity and hooks flowing for an entire longplayer and Led Er Est does just that on Dust on Common. So while yes this can be looked at as mere revivalism, their familiarity with the source material is so impressive that they can avoid those artsy traps that doomed the many forgotten albums from the original post-punk era.

- Banana Wintour