Heartworms already feel like a cult band in the making, with A Comforting Notion establishing their distinct brand.
Photo: Gilbert Trejo | Words: Otis Hayes
Exhilaratingly tense from beginning to end, Heartworms' debut EP, 'A Comforting Notion', is a moody delight. Released on Speedy Wunderground, now respected as one of the UK's defining tastemaker labels, the four-track EP is a triumphantly searing first impression that shows why they are a cult band in the making.
From the first note of 'Consistent Dedication', the atmosphere is intense and eerie. A looping drum machine, a janky guitar riff and Jojo Orme's haunting whispered vocals build this intensity before culminating in a fierce climax of abrasive sound and haunted lyrical poetry. This tone bleeds into 'Retributions Of An Awful Life', on which Orme transitions between spoken word and singing over a gothic rock backdrop which brings to mind classic cuts from Joy Division, Nine Inch Nails and Public Image Ltd.
Heartworms are masterful at building suspense and in turn creating an environment that forces the listener to engage even as they get lost within its layers of introspection. Take the EP's title track, 'A Comforting Notion', which sways elegantly into a murky ether, guided by the kind of sharp guitar line that has become a trademark of producer Dan Carey's output at Speedy.
Closing the EP, '24 Hours' ties the preceding tracks together into one steady build, progressing towards a weighty outro that staggers its way to the end. This indelible close concludes an insistently individual opening statement from one of the most distinctive new artists working in London.
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