Beats From The Sun - Dance is dead

Beats From The Sun 

​Dance is dead
self-released; 2015

3.8 out of 5

By J Simpson
​

Dancing is a funny thing. Most of the time, it's meant to be celebratory - a sublimation of earthly pleasures and passions, a microcosm of seduction and release. Dancing is the best, basically - those moments in life when you're carefree and acting naturally. 

In today's world, however, there is a bit of a push-and-pull when it comes to carefree gaiety. Thanks to the mental distortion of social media and living in an interconnected world, we can sometimes be left with the feeling that we're supposed to be carefree and effortless every day; that we're supposed to be down at the club drinking Cristal and Hennessy and not giving a shit, every night of the week. 

If you've ever known anyone who acts like this, it looks more like alcoholism and drug addiction than having a good time. In fact, it's quite possible, even common, to be miserable as hell while you're trying to have a good time on the dance floor. 

It's unclear why Gothenburg, Sweden's Beats From The Sun chose the name Dance Is Dead to label their sunburst guitars, their martial drums and soaring vocals. Maybe it's a statement, proclaiming that we're back in a time of more "serious music" or maybe it's a battle cry, to stop escaping and start facing reality. 

Either way, the polarities of emotion come across in the tensile guitars, the clipped drumming and thick, sludgy bass. Musically, Beats From The Sun borrow from epic post-rock/post-metal bands like Mogwai or Pelican, but with sincere, moving vocals. It's a sun-dappled, complex and layered listen that says a lot without shouting in your face. 

An excellent debut EP from a talented group of musicians, Dance Is Dead gives hope that is possible to have serious, thoughtful music, while still enjoying yourself and letting go, when it's called for.

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