Double Dagger - 'More' (Thrill Jockey Records) Released 04/05/09

For a group that manage with just drums, bass, vocals and a scattering of samples and over-dubs, Double Dagger’s third LP ‘More’ sounds remarkably full and very, very loud. Sturdy musicianship plays a huge part - Denny Bowen is an innovative, power-house on drums, Bruce Willen’s distinctive choice of tone and effects gives the album a varied sound and Nolen Stral’s singing/speaking/shouting approach to vocals are certainly not in danger of fading into the background.

At its core, Double Dagger is a minimalist post-hardcore group who undeniably owe a substantial amount to Fugazi, not just in their song structures and style, but also in their “art over commerce” approach. Double Dagger have kept themselves routed in the local Baltimore arts scenes and opted to record in a desolate office, without heating, attempting to capture the explosive nature of their live shows. The result of this unique approach is an uncompromising album full of volatile tracks that feel as though they could career out of control at any moment.
 
Opener ‘No Allies’ pulls no punches, setting the abrasive, aggressive tone of the album. On first listen the intensity of the track could catch you off guard, but before the 2m26s are up well thought out structures and melodies become apparent. By comparison, the intro to ‘Vivre Sans Temps Mort’ seems incredibly peaceful, especially when accompanied by Nolen’s poignant, mortality-facing lyrics.  Of course just as you’re lulled into that false sense of security Double Dagger decide it’s an appropriate moment to blow your head off again. It’s an effective trick and one they repeat in even greater extremities on ‘Neon Gray’.
 
With the whole album coming in at under 38mins, the initial experience of listening to ‘More’ is not unlike an unexpected crack to the skull. You’re left a little confused, surprised and generally taken aback - oh it’s unquestionable that something interesting just happened, but you’re not quite sure what. Thankfully, with repeated listens the initial aggressive, chaotic sounds seem to subside (well… a little) as focus is drawn to the shape and depth of the songs on offer. Out-standing efforts include the frantic ‘Camouflage’, which sounds like ‘Cemetry’ by New Order played 10 times faster, and anthemic offering ‘The Lie/The Truth’.
 
Double Dagger may keep the set-up simple (and who can blame them with such electrifying results) but the intricacies of their loud-quiet-loud approach, innovative structures and the extraordinary synergy between Bowen and Willen prove that less can in fact be ‘More’ - apologies…