Rock / Indie Recommendations August 2013

Review: Slow Focus sees the Fuck Buttons duo of Benjamin John Power and Andrew Hung return with a third studio album, and one that marks a departure for both as it's their first release completed without the assistance of a high profile studio hand. Mogwai's John Cummings oversaw their 2008 debut album Street Horrrsing whilst revered Alan Moore lookalike Andrew Weatherall worked his magic on their excellent follow-up Tarot Sport. So how does this seven track set fare under these new circumstances? The Fuck Buttons sound is certainly no less intense without their self professed "safety net" with the familiar sound of squalling feed back dominating opening track "Brainfreeze". From here the pair touch on Holden levels of transcendence with "Year of the Dog" whilst the brutally foreboding sonic slump of "Sentience" is a considered highlight. Welcome back Fuck Buttons!