Half Day Closing: 'Weird Little Monsters EP'

Like a marriage of two different eras, Birmingham three-piece Half Day Closing play a heavy grunge that has been clipped back by the economising of post-punk.

Littered with a dynamic and original interplay of styles (their self-stated flamenco input is plain in the listening), the group bring an exotic quality to small venue circuit rock. All three tracks here rumble with tension and grit and sudden explosions. The music is instantly likable but mature and different sounding. Even Luke Barber’s Cobain-aping drawl sounds well placed. ‘Grandad’ thrashes and flails energetically, ‘Beanie’ twists and kicks and betrays hyperactivity at work in the group’s thinking, while ‘Little Rockets’ descends through a disorienting range of keys. Gratifying.

myspace.com/halfdayclosing

Written by Huw Green.