Teargas & Plateglass – Teargas & Plateglass

Foreboding Has Never Felt So Sweet

If the world were coming to an end, Teargas & Plateglass’ music would surely be playing in the background. Their haunting tunes and intoxicating beats would serve both as the soundtrack to the fiasco and the lull after the carnage. I’m sure other listeners will envision their own scenes of death, sorrow, and lament – and rightly so. With song titles such as “A Book of Black Valentines” and “Resentments of the Dead,” T&P make no attempt to sugarcoat what their music will sound like. And what that sounds like is dark, seductive, and in a strange way, morbidly beautiful. Not much is known of the private T&P. Still, T&P had, until now, made a name for themselves remixing various artists such as 311, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, and fellow Waxploitation labelmates Tweaker. Now, T&P are taking over the wheel for themselves with their eponymous debut.

T&P’s style of electronica is enveloped in thick, hip hop-influenced beats, suspenseful melodies, and string arrangements provided by The Prague Symphony Orchestra. Echoed drum effects and baritone synthesizers add to the band’s mysterious sound. Coupled with contributions from one-time Transglobal Underground front-woman Natacha Atlas and Oba Funke with Zap Mama, this is a truly unique listening experience. The only drawback is that the album can tend to get a bit redundant, but for such a strong debut, it’s a weakness easy to overlook with a simple hit of the skip button. Dark and brooding, the cover art itself suggests a sort of post-apocalyptic kismet. But T&P is much more than just a spooky album, it’s a head noddin’ journey into the mind’s abyss.