(Sub Pop)

www.subpop.com

The closest thing to an AFCGT bio offered by Sub Pop states that the band consists of five people (three guitars, bass, drums) and that their initials might be "convenient vernacular for ‘A Frames' and ‘Climax Golden Twins.'" Even the latter might be the work of a bemused publicist, although for the record, AFCGT comprises A Frames members Min Yee (bass) and Erin Sullivan (guitar), Climax Golden Twins' Robert Millis (guitar) and Jeffrey Taylor (guitar), plus drummer Thommy Northcut.

The detuned, garbled sounds on this album bring back memories of the equally damaged art punk of Thinking Fellers Union 282, without the digression into standard songform or even vocals to break the mood. For ten minutes, the band beats the snot out of two chords in "Two Legged Dog." This produces a dark and lovely hypnosis that never wavers, through a tremolo guitar that enters after three minutes and a sloppy version of a David Gilmour solo that supplants it and rides the song out into a climax of feedback and metal static. They don't top that accomplishment, but they prove they can rock hard and bridge the gap between no wave abrasions and post-rock noodling on slide guitars.

Although it can be purchased for digital download, the physical version of AFCGT's Sub Pop debut is only available on vinyl. That makes sense. Sounds like this lose something if you can't watch the record spin to serve as a reminder you're not dreaming.

Standout Tracks: "Two Legged Dog," "Reasonably Nautical." MIKE SHANLEY