Golden Ocean [Us Import]

This album is raw, fast, and loud in a good way--similar to Wire's recent 'Read & Burn' and 'Send' albums. It's a distorted, yet melodic wall of noise that instantly grabs you by the neck and keeps your attention until the very last song.

Did I mention it's loud? Other artists go mellow with age, but this is Kristin Hersh's loudest yet. I have no idea what makes an almost 40 year-old mother of four scream like this (unless it's _being_ an almost 40 year-old mother of four that makes you want to scream), but she does it in an inspired, breathtaking sort of way.

If you think that there's no way 11 short bursts of guitar noise can be interesting, think again. Hersh's guitar playing is as strong as ever, and for the past ten years bassist Bernard Georges has proved to be a congenial complement. Drummer Rob Ahlers drives the songs along with unprecendented energy.

Chances are that if you loved the recent Throwing Muses albums, you'll love this, as it drives Hersh's musical development to a new peak. However, if you didn't like them, you'll love this too, as it has all the tension and energy that other recent albums seemed to have lacked.

The vignettes of her solo work are gorgeous and intimate, the multi-layered riffs hammered out with her bands Throwing Muses and Fifty Foot Wave are intense and breathtaking. FFW's recordings seem to most closely resemble the Muses' self-titled 2003 comeback album: fierce, uncompromising and full of bitterness and rage. Where 'Golden Ocean' differs from 'Throwing Muses' is that the sweeping, avalanche choruses are as buried in heavy, ever-shifting, wall of sound riffs as the rest of the song structure.

FFW are relentless yet cerebral, crushing yet subtle. The intelligence and subtlety in Hersh's heavier music comes with both the unexpected twists and writhings of the guitar work (always supported by imaginative, frenetic and equally intelligent bass and drums) and the ugly beauty of her lyrics and vocal delivery. To cram bitterness, rage, regret and hope into the delivery of one spiteful line is a gift only Hersh possesses.

When I saw FFW play live recently, it was notable that, despite the blistering volume and pace of the show, nobody was really moshing - they were listening and watching intently to this remarkable artist and performer.