Review: Title Fight - Hyperview
By Megan Fair, Copy Chief
[ANTI; 2015]
Rating: 6.5/10
Key Tracks: “Chlorine,” “Your Pain Is Mine Now,” “Dizzy”
Title Fight has been a band for over a decade and the oldest member is only 27 years old. Obviously, growing in popularity and traveling so much during the formative years of the member's young adult lives would lend itself to an evolution in sound, and it’s been an exciting transition to watch. From the hardcore influenced punk of The Last Thing You Forget and Shed to the gritty, ‘90s energy of Floral Green and the dreamy tone of Spring Songs, it’s been a diverse ride.
Next in the progression comes Hyperview, an album that sounds like the soundtrack to a strange, nightmarish underwater dream. Pairing with producer Will Yip, TF has created a record that sounds like nothing it has created before. Moments of ethereal floating exchange with jangling guitar work on the heavier tunes, making the Hyperview experience one to enjoy all at once, the perfect soundtrack to lying in bed on a dreary weekday evening.
“Murder Your Memory” kicks off the record, and this is the part of your underwater dream where everything is fuzzy and mysterious, lulling you deeper into your dream universe. “Chlorine” makes it abundantly clear that you aren’t conscious, its jangling riffs and paranoid melodies signaling the, “Oh shit, something’s about to go really wrong in this dream,” feeling.
For any fans who feel unnerved by the grooving shoegaze vibe of this record, tracks like the more aggressive “Chlorine” and “Mrahc” will keep their attention, as both have a more Spring Songs-y vibe.
Title Fight can do angry, sad and bitter emotion well, but it is often bundled in a loud, abrasive package. That makes it even more impressive when looking at Hyperview, as those emotions and feelings are now delivered as sweet, dreamy gifts. “Your Pain Is Mine Now,” is a fantastic example of this, as the track has hints of The Smiths in its twinkling riffs and shimmering production. It sounds like standing under a waterfall feels, the world muted to all but the rush of water around you.
“Rose of Sharon” and “Trace Me Onto You” feel the most like Floral Green, only the vocals are more muted and everything feels a little softer around the edges. The impressionable melodies and articulate drumming in each track makes it evident that the band knows how to write a great tune.
A personal favorite, “Dizzy” is a dreamy number that makes me want to take a warm bath sprinkled with flower petals and with lit candles as my only source of light. The patient pacing and spacey guitar riffs over simple drum work makes it a tender moment of openness on a largely noisy, full record.
Hyperview is certainly a leap in terms of sound, but the beauty of an artist never making the same album twice is that it’s nearly impossible to get bored, and it makes it challenging to even compare the records. This album is definitely not going to keep the attention of those who are not into shoegaze, but it will hold the attention of anyone searching for a new sound out of a very talented band.
Despite the fact Hyperview is certainly going to bore some and turn other people off entirely, it’s a grower worth listening to with the volume all the way up a few times before writing it off. The subtle nuances and smart songwriting pair warmly with whimsical guitar tones to create an album that immerses the listener in a dreamy world of water and emotion. Dive in.
