Founder in Oddity

Start Together's debut and swan song album 'Founder In Oddity' is exactly how it sounds; spanning 32 minutes across six tracks, the album leans into genres that could be defined as post-punk, shoegaze, post-rock, alternative pop and kraut-rock.

From intense gritty, abrasive guitars and galloping rhythm section grooves, to pop hooks reminiscent of 80’s post-punk, diverted through soft and luscious reverb-drenched guitar soundscapes, this album is truly a blissful journey for the avid listener of alternate music.

Side A: The first track ‘Impostering the Nascent’ is a beautiful, shimmering instrumental, and one that may be recognised by local punters, as it frequented Start Together’s live sets over the years. This opening track is followed by ‘Squire Jefferson Care Instructions’ an uplifting post-punk meets alternative pop number, the last chorus of which seems to almost soar towards the end. To close side A, the cutting two-part track “Lookfar” leans intently into 80’s post-punk synthesizer territory, and steers out of it with a repetitive groove analogous to more modern dream-pop/indie bands such as The War On Drugs.

Side B: Once the record is flipped and needle lowered, the unmistakable opening first line “stay convincing, stay certain” of ‘Separate Beds’ sounds out. Somewhat reminiscent of New Order, the track is brimming with a vivacious energy from beginning to end, matched with a charmingly frank, understated vocal delivery. ‘Skeptics’, an impressively delivered shoegaze instrumental then follows, invoking the listener on a dream-like journey, with a sense of purpose and curious energy. Closing the album is the title-track, ‘Founder in Oddity’. Boasting a track length of 8 minutes, it is an obscure, kraut-rock expedition where Start Together demonstrate their talent for creating unique and dynamic guitar-wonder soundscapes, with the repeated chord progression in the outro invoking the feeling of a tape skipping and playing the same phrase over and over.