Ashnymph’s Childhood EP is an exhilarating dancehall goth rocker

I have to thank my old friend and party buddy, Tim, for bringing this to my attention. Ashnymph are a London band that blends post-punk melodies with Krautrock rhythms and industrial grime. their debut EP, childhood, She drifts between dreamy vocals buried in layers of reverb and the pounding of the four-legged dance floor on the floor. It’s an exciting opener from a band that appears to be on the cusp of a major breakthrough.

childhood It starts with an ambient recording of someone walking down the hall (I think), and some synthesized noises before the first song, “Island in the Sky” properly kicks in with a motorized beat and pulsing bass. The delicate, digitally manipulated vocals and robotic groove are interspersed with bursts of noise, but the big strings of the chorus are reminiscent of the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s “Whatever Happened to Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

“Saltspreader”, the band’s first single, is next. It kicks off with a deep metallic grind interspersed by rumbling percussion and drum hits, before a soft synth arpeggio brings some melody to the party. In the back half, there are deep vocals dripping with ’80s goth, driving guitar, and disco stomp. Despite its slow build, it’s clear why the band chose this song as their first single. It’s dark, danceable, and an absolute earworm.

“After Glow” leans even further into 80s mania, recalling Depeche Mode and early Ministry, before Al Jourgensen discovered guitars. “47” marries industrial beats, chipmunks’ vocals and scrappy guitars in the vein of a No Wave song like Swans. But a last-minute switch to a half-time groove strips away the more abrasive layers, allowing the beauty of the guitar melody to shine while the ethereal vocals float over the top.

The final track, “Mr. Invisible,” is perhaps the most experimental of the set. It’s more explicitly electronic than the rest, relying on heavily manipulated samples, indecipherable vocals, and the relentless bass tone of the first verse. Eventually, clearer vocal melodies and swirling guitar lines set off polyrhythmic synths. The whole thing is confusing, amazing, and exhilarating. It ends somewhat abruptly on an unbalanced guitar groove and hesitant vocal, leaving me wanting more. Much more.