Forget Cassettes - Salt

Right, now vocalist Beth Cameron sure is on a mission to purge herself of some raw angst! Nashville two-piece Forget Cassettes have spawned this baby as the vehicle to achieve said cleansing ritual. Listening to this record is like floating through a nightmare dreamscape of hurt and deception. The haunting combination of scuzzy guitar work teamed with Beth’s angry screeches and sometimes subtle waves of melodic singing alongside the simple bass lines and minimalist drum beats draw you into a dazed state. Who knew getting over a relationship really could be this bad?

‘Lonely Does It’ is full of dirty guitar riffs, loads of distortion, crashing cymbals and heart-wrenching vocals. (Half)-title track ‘Salt and Syncope’ mixes angelic sounding vocals with in-your-face fuck you lyrics. The band has previously been likened to the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s but this comparison is far too lazy. Think more, Alanis Morisette with a backing band worth listening to, or PJ Harvey back in the good ol’ days of ‘To Bring You My Love’. There are some early Sonic Youth experimental moments, notably on Hurricane Katrina tribute song ‘The Catch’, where the simple chord progressions work beautifully with Cameron’s heartfelt lyrics. Beth at times sounds a bit like Avril Lavigne but don’t be put off by this comparison, this woman has a brain to go along with the voice. As for the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s comparisons, these can only really be seen with second track ‘Quiero, Quietres’ where Beth’s vocals occasionally flirt with Karen O-esque compositions and the guitar work is reminiscent of Nick Zinner’s disjointed pieces. The songs are quite long and slow to start and the album definitely is a ‘grower’ but if you can see past all this and exercise some patience then it really is a little gem of emotional turmoil voiced through the medium of sound.

“Grief is what, if not loud”?! This album is the epitome of self centred wallowing in pain. It’s the perfect type of music to listen to at the key breaking point of a relationship. So people, get out there and commence heartbreaking, after listening to this you’ll be glad you did!

7/10

Released 2nd April 2007, Tangled Up! Recordings
5 Apr 2007 by Naomi Misquita-Rice.