Pinkish Black is a duo out of Denton, Texas, formed sometime in the year 2011. Daron Beck and Jon Teague have been creating music for two decades... notably in a band called The Great Tyrant, which came to an abrupt and tragic end as they lost a band member to suicide. As a fan, I'm very appreciative that they have carried on, because their experiences with one another have enabled excellent musical communication... as a unit they are locked in and channeling the great unknown with unprecedented insight.
Pinkish Black's sound is somewhat difficult to describe concisely, which is part of it's appeal. As one who enjoys all manner of dark music, I appreciate it's traditional doom moments, it's foray into psychedelia, and what one might consider post-punk or "no wave" elements as well. This is an album that needs to be enjoyed completely and in the proper setting. It deserves one's full attention.
The opener, entitled 'She Left Him Red,' begins with a long contemplation of open droning and phantasmal swirling about on the synthesizer. About halfway through, the song tears into a fast, almost progressive rock rhythm on the drums. Think early Mars Volta or Swans, even. The melody is still doomy however, and the vocals are an ethereal, echoed wash, something not quite as dramatic as The Jesus And Mary Chain, and not quite as blurred as My Bloody Valentine, but something of the sort. More modern, so called 'shoegaze-revival' bands are going for this type of vocal sound.
Next, with 'Ashtray Eyes,' we get a more operatic dirge, which at its core, reminds me a bit of Pallbearer's huge presence, but at the same time is soft and haunting, reminiscent of My Dying Bride. It's very moving. 'Kites and Vultures' seems as if the band was heavily inspired by Joy Division. Now, my favorite song by far on this LP is definitely the title track 'Razed to the Ground.' It can be enjoyed on its own, but again, if one takes the time to fully absorb the whole record, appreciation for how perfectly all of the band's strong points converge on this one can be gained.
-This song can be streamed over at Stereogum-
On the latter end of the record, track five, 'Bad Dreamer,' is both crushing and listless... it creeps along in a way that would please even fans of the band Sleep. With 'Rise,' the tempo picks up a bit once again, similar to 'She Left Him Red,' yet about halfway through it transforms into a string of psuedo-breakdowns that are a highly satisfying variety of heavy. The album closes out with 'Loss of Feeling of Loss,' which is sweeping and theatrical.
It's hard to believe this grand sound comes from just two individuals. I have seen some live footage and trust me, it's not just the production, which by the way, they've achieved a modern and uncompromising balance with that. I wish them all the success in the world and I look forward to their continued expressions for my most pensive and languishing moods.
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