Philadelphia’s Cold Court’s EP (^_^) /, or “hands up”, is a thrilling kitchen sink of influences that pulls off the challenging task of creating something that sounds fresh and unique. The city of brotherly love has a deep bench of talent right now, and Cold Court seemingly came out of nowhere to become one of the brightest new lights. While sometimes a maximalist approach can grow tiresome, Cold Court keep finding ways to build on their sound, pushing it in directions that keep it thrilling.
Led by siblings Mini Serrano and Jojo Lavina-Maldonado, the band’s sound made a leap when the two developed a competition to see who could create the most blown-out, noisy tracks using Ableton. They have mentioned that 100 gecs are a touchstone, but that’s easy. It’s more fun to parse for the disparate elements the siblings find thrilling ways to meld. If you need some more contemporary touchpoints, they are scheduled to open for Geese this fall. They don’t sound too similar, but it’s easy to imagine Cold Court winning over that audience with their high-energy, in-the-red sound.
These seven tracks are all one-word titles that don’t give much away, and it’s better that way. You won’t be prepared for the way the opening track, “”Nina”, explodeswith a massive riff and synths that recall anything from At the Drive-In or the Mars Volta to MSPAINT. It’s an addictive track that burrows into your brain and sets up a protest, even as it dips into psychedelia for a moment before coming on even harder. It’s one of the year’s most indispensable songs.
Next, “Backslang” starts as though it’s going to provide a needed breather, but it takes those urgent vocals and a thick bass before adding squalling guitars and synths, raising the stakes higher. “Burn” comes on like !!! meets Atari Teenage Riot, leaving you wondering if it’s more appropriate to mosh or dance. Your choice, but not moving is not an option. “Cola” and “Glass” lean harder into dance, but still have distortion and driving urgency, with “Glass” ratcheting up the intensity. Even when the group eschew the guitars, as on “Eighty1”, the results are inventive and infectious.
Lyrically, it’s more about a vibe than a message, and that’s fine. The sounds are so thrilling and addictive that it’s not that important what Cold Court are on about. Closer “Light” turns the intensity up again, blending an almost video game sound with something that approaches Faith No More’s “Epic”. Then, as quickly as it started, it is over. You’ll want to revisit the sugar rush of “Nina” immediately.
(^_^) / is easily one of the most exciting debuts this year. Cold Court emerged fully formed, after digesting a sea of touchstones and pushing them all into the abyss, leaving the listener breathless and ready for more. If there’s one small note, it’s that the intensity of these seven songs is so powerful that I wonder if it will be possible to sustain it over a full album. I’m certainly ready to hear them try.