HUMAN BEAT - Self-Titled

Hey, I've got a question for all of you. Why aren't we collectively losing our minds over this band yet?

I was only just sent the entirety of this album yesterday evening. Prior to that, my exposure to Human Beat was limited to two of their songs -- "Mind Body Soul" and "Punctual Punks" --, which as far as I can tell, are the only recordings of the band to have surfaced on the internet. Since its original release in October of 2018, the album was restricted to a limited run of tapes by Jenny Records, which have long since been sold out -- naturally. A vinyl is supposedly slated to be released by Birmingham's Earth Libraries this coming October (https://www.earthlibraries.com/catalo..., though I'm not entirely certain how that release is panning out. But fortunately, the label responsible for the original cassette release was kind enough to offer me Human Beat's self-titled LP in its entirety, and I couldn't be more thankful. This album is incredible.

The biography that Jenny Records provided me is much better than anything I can conjure, so I'll go ahead and copy & paste that here:

"I put this tape out last year in October. The band is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. They've been a part of the local weird/DIY scene forever. Raidy's (guitar, vocals) always been churning out stuff wherever he is. Before Human Beat, he's done Shocks, Amber Alerts, all kinds of shit over the years. As far as I know Leslie (vocals) has never been in a band before, and she's killin' it. She and Raidy recently moved Chicago, Rolfe (drums) is still chillin in Bham playing in other projects, and Chayse (bass) relocated to SanFran. Even though they're all over the place now, they're still touring. They're playing a string of shows on the West Coast right now."

A band of this technical proficiency deserves every bit of coverage they can get, so please, give Human Beat your complete and undivided attention -- not that they'd have to ask twice for it, of course. With a jitter and a spark, this album ignites with a razor-sharp slice of post-punk angularity, convulsing with a tightly-wound intensity delineated by a toe-tapping rhythms, expressive, non-conformal basslines, and an infectious rigidness to the guitarist's strum patterns. In the distance, the group's vocalist sings with a charmingly-detached intonation, seemingly disenchanted by the red hot affair of tensed pop-like riffage surrounding her; which is element of Human Beat's music that remains constant, even as the album gradually steepens its tonality into one darkened by a downward-facing post-punk beatitude, relishing in a dirge-like texture. Sauntering with a nervous energy, Human Beat never fails to induce a stupor with their smart usage of negative space, creating these tightened, pronounced jabs at your ear canal with funk-driven, jazz-like melodies and the occasional vocal rotation/harmony. It's a such a striking sound that borders on both antiquity, and a uniquely-refreshing take on that new-wave spunk I find so helplessly compelling.

Human Beat is a total live wire -- if you like what you hear, consider pre-ordering a copy of that vinyl. According to the label, Earth Libraries has the LPs in their hands as well as ~20 of the test pressings with DIY screen-printed jackets. They're currently working on more US/EU dates. All merch 'n' junk can be found on their website: https://www.earthlibraries.com/

TRACK LIST:
Mind Body Soul - 0:00
Contact - 0:59
I'm Not Satisfied - 3:39
Julia - 5:44
Damage - 7:19
Punctual Punks - 8:38
Calling Destiny - 11:26
Always - 13:43
Out of Place - 15:02
Wonderful Arrangement - 16:08
Where Are They Now - 17:42

SUPPORT: https://earthlibraries.bandcamp.com/a...
https://jennyrecords.bandcamp.com/alb...
DOWNLOAD: https://www.mediafire.com/file/hntc9h...