Puce Mary - (2014) The Great Panic CS

Puce May, the rising project from Frederikke Hoffmeier brings us dark and brooding sounds.

The tape opens with “Another Dream on Superiority”; barely decipherable spoken word washes over a slow bass sequence and terse delay throughout. The following track, “Scaps”, it has to be said, comes across a little slap-hazard, with insistent rim shot patter sparring with heavily flanged vocals. It’s messy, but thankfully short.

There’s an outstanding martial atmosphere on the title track, and fantastic juggernaut rhythms with queasy Anenzephalia-styled vocals on “Insomnia”. “Drugs I” is perfect: lurching, gutsy analogue crunch undermining subtle upper-range improvisation. There’s a lot going on, but it’s distinct, focused and brilliant.  It’s a real highlight, and if “Drugs I” was a happy trip, “Drugs II” is chemical-induced fear and paranoia. It rounds out the tape very nicely.