This album, plopped through my letterbox a week or so ago, and I’ve been coming back to it again and again. Violens are a 4 piece from New York and Amoral is their debut album, self-released, self-recorded, self-produced and self-mixed.

It’s dripping in musical references, mostly from the late 80’s and early 90’s. The cover art reminded me of Peter Saville’s Technique for New Order, as soon as I saw it… and there’s a definite New Ordery feel on a few of the tracks as well, (Acid Reign, Another Strike Restrained), … but you can feel other influences at play too, there’s those Johnny Marr like guitars swooping in and out of tracks and bits that remind me of the Associates, Durutti Column and even Tears for Fears

It’s a truly beautiful album, all floating, echoey harmonies, swirling and circling,  sometimes even veering into 60’s psychedelia , (Violent Sensation Descends)  Anyway…  a very nice bit of work and worth a listen.

Album on sale today, 4^th October and on tour in the UK in November and December supporting The Drums, you can catch them at the following northerly venues…

Monday 29 Nov. ABC, Glasgow

Friday 3 Dec. Northumbria University, Newcastle

Saturday 4 Dec. Metropolitan University, Leeds

Sunday 5 Dec. Rock City, Nottingham

Monday 6 Dec. The Academy, Manchester

By Dave on October 4, 2010