by Dominic Acito (@mycamgrlromance)
Gash is a band which makes seriously good music, but they are also a band that doesn’t take itself too seriously. They do tackle some emotional issues, but with a keen sense of humor that can find inside jokes working their way into the track names. A knee jerk reaction when listening to Leftern is to compare them with Slint. After all, both bands have the same math-rock/post-rock sensibilities (and single syllable group name), but after hearing Leftern, the comparisons, while on track, don’t give enough credit to Gash as having very much carved out a territory of its own. Both artists have expansive, post-rock influenced math rock albums that excel in the Steve Albini/John Peel Session style of production where the goal is only to capture exactly what is going on in the room between the musicians. While it’s true that fans of Slint would enjoy this record, it’s clear that Gash has taken influence from many other, more contemporary artists. There is an unmistakable grit in the recording that make this sound more raw and less polished in an authentic manner than anything Slint has ever done.
The tracks on Leftern ebb and flow through Swans-like drone segments and release into Unwound style guitar riffs only to then break apart into moments of indie songwriting that remind one of a young, more punk version of David Byrne. The catchy songwriting prowess of Gash was on full display with their 2018 album haha with songs like “Famous at the Mall” and while it comes into play in moments on Leftern, it feels like less a focus on individual songs and more a focus on the album as a whole. The record rewards repeat listening, with different aspects of the band’s writing revealing themselves with each subsequent listen.
While Leftern is a great album to listen to as a whole, that isn’t to say that its without its great songs. There are no traditional verse-chorus-verse style songs, but tracks like “My Head Hurts” and “Dutt” are great examples of Gash’s songwriting as they contain elements of their distinct style of instrumentation. “My Head Hurts” serves as a great gateway song for their music of as its the most traditionally catchy track upon first listen.
Upon second listen however, the standout track is more difficult to pinpoint. One can find themselves catching missed moments as new aspects of the album become more apparent. Upon each listen, you will find it more difficult to determine which songs warrant another immediate listen - is it “Hard” for its hypnotic groove or the expansive “Changing” for its infectious energy?