When Steven takes the lead on Control, it is with the blank-eyed delivery of a shady character sitting at the end of a seedy, dimly-lit bar. Although on the surface he appears to be yearning for reconciliation (‘I’m listening clearly, but I dunno if you hear me’), the robotic bassline and telltale passive-aggressive slips (‘Fuck what you think you want’) leave the characters in an emotional stalemate.
If that makes Ø sounds like a downer, well, it’s not exactly cheery. However, On The Hook closes this EP with the sort of bludgeoning guitar and drums attack that have powered Blood Red Shoes throughout their career. In truth, this EP feels like a detour down a side road that leads to a Butlin's camp for malevolent spirits and serial killers. It leaves you wondering which road Blood Red Shoes will take next.
Verdict: 3/5
For Fans Of: Queens Of The Stone Age, Mark Lanegan, PJ Harvey.
Ø is available now via Velveteen.
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