Hidari Mae Speed Not Steel

Item: Hidari Mae / Speed Not Steel
Author: Derek Skillings

Hidari Mae / Speed Not Steel

(2004)

Reviewed by Derek Skillings

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Label Lujo RecordsDecapolisJuly 2004

ambient indie rock post-rock

Don't let the words "split ep" confuse you when referring to this Hidari Mae / Speed Not Steel split. This is not two bands sharing one ep with a couple of songs each, this split if you can even call it that is more like two completely separate albums sharing the same packaging. Each disc contains about 1/2 hour of material from the respective band, quite the deal for a split ep. As the two albums are distinct I will follow their lead and review them separately.

Hidari Mae is about as soothing as rock can get. In fact I am going to go ahead and place it in the ambient rock genre just because I can. Besides as cataloging crazy as people are nowadays I am sure it exists already anyway. They are a lulling combination of gentle guitars, keyboards, and drums. Founded in 1998 with several breaks to work on other projects, band members Andy Myers and Eric Fisher are active members in Damien Jurado and Rosie Thomas. Hidari Mae really proves that all that wait and work was worth it. The more I listen to this album the more I love it. The perfect thing to put you in a peaceful mood.

3/4

Speed Not Steel on the other hand does not hold up their half of the double release nearly as well. They are watered down college rock with weak vocals. A couple of catchy choruses are not enough to make up for the unimaginative bulk of the cd. Although they do not do anything specifically wrong they are just lackluster. They are good enough for a few listens but don't have any staying power. With the amount of good material that you are getting for this split though, it would be hard not to recommend it.

2/4