History Invades is the latest gem on the Lujo roster with the proof in their debut full-length The Structure Of A Precise Fashion, which follows 2003's Audio Documentation demo and the following year's Video Men We Radio Are 7 inch. It's mid-tempo, toe-tapping indie rock that may draw comparisons to Modest Mouse, but all the whilst avoiding "second-rate" and "cutout" labels. Plus, even with MM's surge in popularity last year, it's still a rare influence to have as of late.
Vocally, History Invades don't sound at all similiar to MM, but they definitely carry that same jumpy, weird energy. Everyone in the band sings, and by everyone, I refer to the 2 members that make up History Invades, Daniel Mayberry and Paul Harper. One's wail complements the other's frenetic scream rather well (which seriously sounds like Dennis Lxyzén at plenty points), a contrast that actually works unlike some others who happen to also reside in their state.
Forgoing contemporary structure, many tracks on Structure rely more on fairly ambitious, fluid tempo and guitar tone changes amidst songs. "Nightcap" starts out with post-punk, smothering riffing, and eventually trades it in for a cheeky, more high-pitched feel á la MM's "The View," only to eventually finish with dance-led, stomping chords. "[-](Beginning)" finds the aforementioned vocalists yelling over each other's usually oblique statements, one stating "it's in the chemicals" while the other exclaims something relatively incomprehensible. Its follower, "It's All Over (Ending)," puts forth a hip-slapping rhythm section in its early goings. "My Name Is Afraid" is certainly a standout with some effective knob-twisting behind Mayberry or Harper's frenzied yelping.
With only two members responsible for full-band performances on Structure, there's some programming abound, notably in "Here Comes The Smart Patrol," and though it isn't the most creative, intriguing webbing of noise, the band never falls into the trap of noodly extension or "noise for the sake of sound" posturing.
I can't get into The Structure Of A Precise Fashion as much as some others may find, but it's hard not to appreciate the funky arrangements contained within a record as solid and creative as History Invades has crafted.
MP3s
We Ran Out Of Bridges So We Burned Down Our Houses
Nightcap
STREAM
Call Me Mint Jelly 'Cause I'm On The Lamb