danger cat - out of the woodwork

Danger Cat

Out Of The Woodwork
self-released; 2013

3.6 out of 5

By Sean Dennison

The Canadian group Danger Cat lays down sublime grooves that simmer with both anger and affability. The four-track EP Out of the Woodwork highlights the group’s talents for a funk-based rhythm section and grimy riffs.

The opener "Come Now" throws in a bit of post-punk production. It has a very sparse sonic quality whose gaps are filled in with aggressive guitar notes and loud, pulsating drumming. The other songs' audio quality follows the opener's blueprints, by giving each instrument a prominent place in production. "When We Play" is a much stronger number, in small part due to the vocalist's snarling delivery and topsy-turvy guitar work.

"Jean" softens the mood with its gentler chord progressions and melody. Toward the end we are treated to the most exciting moment on the EP. Swathes of guitar-driven noise mingle with the heaviest percussion heard thus far, bringing me back to my own golden days of radio-listening when the same compositional techniques dominated rock. "Battle" ends things on a lighter note, with more intrinsic interplay among the instruments, including some nifty strumming that adds play tones to the otherwise hard-wired sound.

Out of the Woodwork is a fun little EP with tight harmony and interesting mixing. It has a very garage feel to it and yet there is a sleekness in the work that helps to underscore the sometimes abrasive feelings translated through the musicians' music.

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