by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Last Friday saw the triumphant return of Leeds based trio Beige Palace, the band joining together with London alternative punk duo Cassels for a new split 7”. Out via Human Worth (The Eurosuite, Grub Nap, Fucking Lovely) and God Unknown Records (Wooden Tape, Duke Garwood, Modern Rituals), “Waterloo Sublet” breaks a four year absence for Beige Palace, their first new music since the gloriously unnerving Leg LP. We feel in love with that record, an absolute favorite of 2019, but they’ve been relatively inactive since while the band’s members have been busy with other music (Thank) and art related projects. That seems to be about to change though as they’re getting ready to share a new album later this year. In the meantime, it would seem they’re picking up where they left off on "Waterloo Sublet.”
With the recording out in the world, we’re treated to a live in-studio video of the band performing the single, from the patient sprawl and sordid drone of the introduction to the fantastically off-axis compulsions of the verses. The song instantly sounds like Beige Palace, the band’s unique sense of tonality and soured melodies already such a radiant staple of their make-up. Abrasive yet grooving, the band - Ant Bedford (drums/vocals), Kelly Bishop (keys/violin/vocals) and Freddy Vinehill-Cliffe (guitar/vocals) - have a brilliant knack for creating tension amid drums that always seem to hypnotize within the pocket. Beige Palace rely as much on throbbing synth menace as they do the strength of their vocal melodies, and the staggered rhythms. They twist and convulse, their voices piercing yet manically melodic, everything is pieced together in a way that’s delightfully aggressive and entirely engaging. There’s one else doing it quite like Beige Palace, a warped force of tangled minimalism and a fried consciousness.