Cork, for many years, has been the hotbed for many of Ireland’s more absurd or bizarre musical offspring to vent their creative spleens. The Sultans and The Franks all hailed from the Southern capital, and even Microdisney had their moments, but there’s nothing ironic or fun-filled about Waiting Room. Maybe it’s the fact that they had their gear destroyed in a studio fire during the making of this album, but there is something remarkably serious and focused about Catering For Headphones that belies the band’s relatively tender years.
After the eerily intriguing intro that is ‘Waller St’, we’re dragged along with the muscular instrumental ‘I Took Some Painkillers’, which manages quite a number of tempo changes over the course of its 87 seconds. ‘Another Take’ is the first real sign that Dave, Nigel and Wayne mean business: think Mercury Rev jamming with Sparklehorse and Mogwai, and you’re part way towards appreciating its stop-start staccato rhythm and gorgeous melody, augmented by some deliciously understated cello. ‘Message Received’ starts off in a similarly low-key manner, builds up a noisy wall of distorted guitars, before spiralling back down to earth for the fragile finishing bars. Then there’s the slightly angular, almost military, rhythms of The Flaming Lips-esque ‘Angel’ to get your head around, or the soaring guitar wig-out that is ‘Carousel’.
The three-piece prove themselves accomplished musicians throughout Catering For Headphones but it’s not about dispassionate musing or choosing style over substance. ‘Amsterdam’ and ‘Today Left Me With’ practically glow with warmth and emotion, while I defy anyone with a heart to listen to the mesmerising ‘Return My Rabbits’ and remain unmoved.
It’s fantastic to see a young band unafraid to take risks, diverting from the mainstream musical motorway onto a series of less direct but far more beguiling byroads. Catering For Headphones beats with an experimental heart, backed up by superb musicianship and genuinely moving songs of real artistic and musical merit. Refreshingly inventive, often magical and consistently brilliant.