Background & Context
The band's seminal debut album. Following a turbulent delay where the master tapes were impounded due to Seismic Records' financial problems, the band formed their own label (Field Records) to independently publish the record. It was noted for its unconventional guerrilla recording locations, including a Northampton print works, a disused Leicester pub, and abandoned office buildings, capturing the live noise rock energy without overdubs.
Listen
Track Listing
- 01Bored
- 02Rhythms
- 03Decimate
- 04Five by Five
- 05Kill the Cool Cat
- 06Turning to the Ground
- 07Get Yourself Happy for a While
- 08It Can't Be Wrong
Press Reviews
"TWO MEN ONE DRUM MACHINE, NO VOCALS. RESULT: KKKK. Ann Arbor may travel light - Tim Waterfield and Matt Jones have forsworn their right to a singer or drummer - but when it comes to music they pile on the force with black hole intensity. 16 Bit is a devastating maelstrom of post-rock discordance and ferocity... Slint-style guitar abrasions are twisted into dubbed-out depth charges. Dark and unnervingly addictive."
"Too many people scoff at the thought of a drum machine-propelled band... here's another outfit to add to the list of enterprising outfits: Ann Arbor, and with their post-rock, post-hardcore, post-spazz... blend of surprisingly ambient sonics, they're not an outfit you're likely to forget in a hurry. Check out the heartbeat-like procession of 'Rhythm', where reverb-laden axes splay out over time-bomb like hi-hats. In a league of their own. Nice."
"'Bored' starts off with old Therapy? style scuzziness and harder edged rhythms, with a thrashing, dissonant riff... heavily Shellac, Jesus Lizard, and Fudge Tunnel inspired. 'Decimate' has some wonderful ambient soundscapes, while 'Five by Five' darkens things with sweat-inducing mood-crammed rhythms. Ann Arbor are odd, they mix together styles bizarre, but overall, their instrumental ramblings stay captivating throughout."
"Ann Arbor are from Leicester - a guitarist and a bass player and a black box. Instrumental stuff, very similar to Shellac, Big Black stuff... there's some excellent riffage going on here, it sounds like they are playing heavy duty crane cable rather than guitar strings, a very metallic sound. If you are a fan of the Steve Albini school of driving rock, check these guys out. Cool Shellac riffage."