4 out of 5
Label: Hex Records
Produced by: Scott Evans (recorded by)
A broad sweep of disenchanted post-rock noise gets focused and leveled on Facet’s 10-song debut, sharpening the jangly edges of midwest(-adjacent) hardcore like Young Widows with the power of Shellac’s stop-start grooves. Vocals get attributed to a couple folks here – Max Senna on guitar and Jose Davila on bass – so I’m unclear who’s taking lead (or if I’m just not distinguishing between two singers), but the corporate America / social class takedowns bleated in short phrases are actually one of Facet’s special touches: bands that operate in this space often get fully classed by the RIYL-style references I’ve already made; that is, it can be too easy to say something akin to, “why listen to band X when Y does it better?” However, while the individual slices of this band’s sound are a composite of things we’ve heard before (including some things on Hex Records, or its co-releasing compatriots like Ghost is Clear and Expert Work), there’s a lot of nuance and attention to songsmanship that makes this a more enduring part of my listening rotation – and back to the point, the singing here is a big part of that. Yes, I’m admittedly a sucker for exactly this kind of mid-range shout/talk-singing, probably because it’s relatably shoutable/talk-singable for my abilities, but that aside: either Max or Jose knows how to extend their ability just enough so that it’s not solely on or off with the shouting and talking, which is most generally how these singers operate. The variation is found in the patter, whether it’s slightly more “lyrical” or staccato; this is backed up by the rhythm section’s vacillation between riffing and rocking out, also well-balanced such that each song has a distinct vibe, and then the deal gets sealed by Bradley Walker’s drums, which are restlessly pummeling, then reigned in to give songs and the album breathing room.
Though the album is lacking that standout single that makes you want to hit play again and again, Facet has arguably done something better in the long run: they’ve delivered an entire set that feels worth your time.
