Their motto "DRONE OR DIE" pretty much gives away what you can expect from French quartet Dead Horse One (a play on Air Force One? Who knows/cares..) and a casual glance at their facebook page reveals an unsurprising list of influences (Spacemen 3, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine, you know the rest already). Yep these guys specialise in drone rock and shoegaze. In fact if you were to imagine shoegaze as a dartboard with sections including dreampop, drone, noise-rock etc., then Dead Horse One have aimed straight down the middle and hit the bullseye. This is pure dead-centre shoegaze, an amalgamation of their roster of heroes that inhabits in the same neighbourhood as more modern fuzz-rockers like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Brian Jonestown Massacre.
The EP is called 'Heavenly Choir Of Jet Engines' for heaven's sake, what else would you expect? To cut to the chase, these four tracks of distorted blankets of guitar and soft-focus Dandy Warhols vocals are pretty ace. The ever so slightly funky 'Alone' has a touch of the Wooden Shjips about it and also bears a striking resemblance to underrated Aussies The Morning After Girls. The sludgy jam 'He Goes Down' hits a deep groove and sticks to it. The production here is pure imitation but also remarkably accurate. The gentle buzz that backs 'To Pretend' is the same classic sound that's categorized many greats of the genre. On 'Cruel Winter' there's more clarity, the lyrics are decipherable and the track is all round more conventional, but just as good. Don't expect anything new from Dead Horse One here, but if shoegaze is your thing then this traditionally reared thoroughbred is one that's worth backing.
Dead Horse One's website
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