Album Review: Bambara – Stray

There are currently plenty of bands putting themselves forward to carry the torch for moody post-punk once Nick Cave finally decides to hang up his goth crown, and here Bambara add to their number. The Athens, Georgia trio channel Cave’s dark majesty, as well as the dirtiest sounds of early Swans.

The music itself is minimalist, but still manages to conjure an intense darkness, aided by the haunting drawl of guitarist Reid Bateh. The dynamic is expansive, lending a feverish effect when tracks such as Machete begin to pick up the pace.

Of course, it’s easy to put on a gloomy display when your lyrical content centres solely around death, however, these songs are so nuanced and skilfully textured that at no point does this record ever start to seem like a gimmick. And despite that obsession with the grave, Bambara are solid proof that this stuff is still very much alive and more relevant than ever.

Verdict: 3/5