Aliment Sempre Res 12″
ALIMENT is a somewhat elusive entity. With releases tracing as far back as 2010, they have clearly been honing their craft for quite some time. The accomplishment of such longevity yields dividends that take the form of pulling off complex rhythms and harmonies with ease, sneaking nuance in through the side door, not to deny the effectiveness of the hooks and general catchiness at hand. That’s the beauty of Sempre Res (which translates to “always nothing”)—the pop sensibilities lure you in, but the ingenuity and angularity will keep you coming back. Stylistically, ALIMENT occupies the midpoint between PROTOMARTYR and the MARKED MEN. Not as dour as the former, nor as overtly melodic as the latter, they have a textured post-punk aesthetic that doesn’t get too gloomy or zapped of energy. Barcelona seems to consistently produce bands that twist the dial a bit to the left. ALIMENT is no exception. Provocative in exactly the right ways.