Hype is the enemy when it comes to music.

Too many potentially great bands have been built up over the years, only to be banished into the musical wilderness; never being allowed to develop into the musical force that they may well have become. Brooklyn's A Place To Bury Strangers have navigated a course that has bypassed the hype minefield, and gathered a sizeable congregation over a career that has seen them release four albums.


Tonight's show at Music Hall of Williamsburg serves as the official launch of their latest album Transfixiation, as well as the first date of their world tour. They've brought along some like-minded friends too; Ed Schrader's Music Beat and Grooms. The latter deliver a set that conjures up memories of seeing acts like Sebadoh and Sonic Youth in the mid '90s. The former are a two-piece that manage to blend the contrasting worlds of Jim Morrison in monologue mode, and the sheer intensity of Shellac. 

Transfixiation is one of those albums that make an immediate impression, and having not had the pleasure of seeing APTBS live prior to this, it becomes immediately apparent that they are the kind of act that leaves a lasting impression. The trio's ability to manipulate noise and mould it into what you can only describe as elongated fever pitch is on a different scale to most of their peers. My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus And Mary Chain brought this kind of intensity in the late '80s and '90s, and it is acts like APTBS, BlackboxRed, and Dublin’s Twinkranes that are rediscovering that extreme in the present day.

It's clearly a special night for majority of people packed into the Music Hall. You can almost sense the anticipation from the 300 plus crowd when you walk in the door. The second that APTBS cracks their first note, it feels like the ground jumps a few feet! 
As you'd expect, material from Transfixiation makes up quite a bit of the set, but they mix it well with older material. Trainspotters might notice that their bassist Dion, who was once of Kiwi alt rockers The D4 is an integral part of APTBS (thank you BP Fallon for that nugget of knowledge).
The D4 didn't reach their full potential, but A Place To Bury Strangers' set tonight is a prime example of a band that has reached a special point in their career. You can hear the balance of youthful angst with the poise and style of an experienced band that have flown at this kind of altitude many times prior to this.

So what can you expect when they touch down in Ireland for a show at Dublin's Workman's Club on March 31? Brace yourself for one of those gigs of the calibre of Royal Blood's gig at the same venue last year. APTBS are a different kind proposition, but one that are no less spectacular. Does this count as casting the seeds of hype into your mind? Yes, I guess it does; guilty as charged!

Dan Hegarty's new book, Buried Treasure: Overlooked, Forgotten And Uncrowned Albums is available to pre-order here now and starts shipping March 24. With a foreword from U2's Larry Mullen Jr, it uncovers music albums from the people who know music best. Musicians, actors, producers, and pop culture icons all contribute their favourite albums to create an eclectic collection of all genres and decades of music.
It features an array of reviews, stories and reccommendations from Hegarty and individuals such as Cillian Murphy, Imelda May, and Aidan Gillen. In the words of the author: "This book is about rediscovering, introducing and celebrating."