Three Second Kiss's fifth release opens with an earnestness and brutality that colours the album. The music is full of convulsive bursts of noise: anti-melodic guitar work, spasmodic percussion, and intricate but bombastic bass guitar. The jagged guitar, sparse-but-then-furious drums, and sardonic vocals all sound a lot like Liar-era Jesus Lizard. Both the present release and the older Touch and Go classic benefit from Steve Albini's presence in the recording process. Like some of the classic Albini recordings, Long Distance is built on tempo changes, stop/start melodies, and a disorienting barrage of percussion, bass, and just plain loudness.
[...more...]