NEW YORK NIGHT TRAIN: THE NOTEKILLERS

RECORD
REVIEWS

The Notekillers
"Airport"/"Ants"
2006

These are the first two new songs by The Notekillers in a quarter-century. I have no problem using superlatives when I say that they are one of the best instrumental bands of all time and I’m thrilled that they’re at it again. The first song, “Airport,” takes off where they left off - with David First’s razor sharp guitar incisions hovering above, hiding behind, and pounding head-on against Stephen Blenky and Barry Halkin’s powerful, artful, and downright soulful rhythm assault. “Ants” is a stuttery mid-tempo oddball that stumbles single-file out of the ant-bed beat by beat and eventually multiplies into thousands as the little insect condo catches fire.

If you think that this is a Sonic Youth-informed math rock band, you’ve got it all backwards. Thurston Moore collected their singles and demos and released them on his Ecstatic Peace imprint last year. It all started when the fantasy mix he made for Mojo included The Notekillers’ little slab of brutal 1980 lightning entitled “The Zipper.” He wrote, “It was one of those records that resonated fully with all of us at the time -- a genuine hybrid of radical approach (Ayler/Pistols!).” Not only were The Notekillers one of the first bands to bridge jazz and punk, but they've been one of the only ones to meld jazz and rock without sounding cheesy, self-indulgent, or just downright naïve. Extra-highly recommended. I can’t wait to hear the full-length.

The Notekillers have physical copies, but you can dowload a digital one - with cover and all - for free - here.

MEDIA:

Airport MP3

Ants MP3