Hella / Dilute
“Live” Split EP
(Sickroom Records)
Two of the west coats’ most engaging bands captured exquisitely on this one double disc offering! What more could you ask for? Hailing from the Bay Area of San Francisco and Oakland, dilute is one of the brighter stars on the horizon of instrumental rock. Backed by the multi talented Jay Pellici on drums, dilute’s music is at times intricately beautiful and strangely arousing in the sense of how unabashed rock and roll can make you feel. Contributing five tracks to this live album; dilute is certainly a band to keep an eye out for in the months and years to come.
The other half of this spilt EP comes from the Sacramento, California noise duo currently making waves as Hella. A somewhat improvisational and free jazz/punk outfit, Spencer Seim and Zach Hill sound as if they’re lost in a Zen-like trance as they pound away through their songs like jazz musicians caught in a wave of distortion. Perhaps one of the most original bands currently making music today; their thrashing sound and brutal guitar riffs are definitely an acquired taste, as Hella’s sound can best be described as schizophrenic music for an unjust world. Enter the second portion of this album at your own risk! Hella is band that shan’t be messed with! Headphones listeners use caution!
Gordon Downs
