In the space of just five songs Navies show they are a dynamic, technical and occasionally brilliant young band that have more than a passing affection for their D.C brethren.
This is their second EP after releasing a tour only Early Player late last year and two vinyls in the last twelve months. Their version of mathy post-punk delivers in spades from the squalling and almost chaotic Illegal Fights to the atmospheric Split Infinitive but it's not so much the songs as the approach that really matters here.
Too often post genres suffer from the songs having no point other than to destroy the precursor but Navies know exactly what they want. Take the politics and rhythm of Fugazi and listen to lots of your mates playing similar music (see: Decahedron, Bear vs Shark) but then do something unexpected. Drag the point out a little more, move away from modern punk and strip each instrument down to a single sound. Give the guitars ample opportunity but limited resources and the drums tight skins and a lashing of cymbals.
Navies sound like the primordial ooze of post-punk and that's no bad thing.
3/4
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