Once again it was the unlimited width of the i-net that made me come across 2:54, the wonderful band of Irish, now Bristol-based, sisters Colette und Hannah Thurlow, who borrowed the band’s name from their shared favorite moment in the Melvins song A History Of Bad Men. Must be a really impressing moment that they also used it for their self-titled debut, with a much acclaimed EP preceding.
Musically the girls get labeled as shoegazing Dark Pop up to Indie Rock. I prefer latter one as I think that 2:54 range anywhere between bands such as Massive Attack, Siouxie Sioux (And The Banshees) and maybe the Cranes and Chrissie Hynde, with a distinct touch of Post Rock and Shoegaze. I would like to refer to an Indie Rock version of Warpaint. 2:54 is dark, not dreary, hauntingly beautiful and melancholically draped, magical and intensive. Some guitar hooks and sung aaaahs and ohhhhs might sound ingenuous but never cheesy. I love the track You’re Early, which vaguely reminds me of a band or song from the 80s, and the Post Rock influenced Easy Undervover, Scarlet and closing track Creeping.
2:54 does not offer any sensational new style or mix of styles, genres or whatever, but it is nothing less than a harmonious and wonderful debut album.