BAND OF THE WEEK: HOLSTENWALL

If the new EP from the French band known as Holstenwall, “Le Podium #3,” doesn’t come out swinging, it certainly comes out swirling.

Download “Telomeres” by Holstenwall, from the EP “Le Podium #3”

There’s a revolving, subtle, narcotic delirium within the first few seconds of the EP’s opening track, “Telomeres.” It feels somehow out of phase, out of this world, and threatening to spin out of control. Given the sounds that Holstenwall explore on the remainder of the EP – dark corners, deep regrets and missed opportunities are what we hear, along with guitars that chime like weeping angels – “Telomeres” is the sign at the entrance of the ride that warns us that we’re about to walk upon the edge of no escape.

Given these swirling, washed-out vibes crashing over us with every spin of “Le Podium #3,” it’s tempting to declare that Holstenwall will now inherit the crown long worn by our favorite French explorer of the deep (without whom, it could be argued, we would have never had this enhancement to our lives). That might be a bit premature – and who knows what the future holds? Yet when Holstenwall take their next step toward the podium to speak, we will be listening to every word.

“If we were logical, the future would be bleak indeed. But we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope and we can work.” – Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Holstenwall – Telomeres from CLAP CLAP CLUB on Vimeo.