Rahim – Jungles [EP]

Almost Plagiarism

Choppy, jittery sounds are back in a big way. In droves, young guitarists are using sharp, jerky, almost danceable licks. This started with Gang of Four and has picked up some serious steam because of bands like Franz Ferdinand, Futureheads, and Interpol, peaking with Bloc Party’s Silent Alarm. However, if every trend has an imitator of the primary influence, then Rahim mimics Gang of Four on their debut EP, Jungles. The difference here is that the band simply doesn’t sound as good as their influence or their contemporaries. From the drum patterns that open “”One At A Time,”” which came directly from Gang of Four’s “”Anthrax,”” the listener can tell these individuals are heavily under the influence of the legendary quartet. This is immediately proven once Michael Friedlich’s single-note guitar style blares its way into the mix. The fact that Freidlich also sounds like Jon King doesn’t help matters. The rest of this four-song EP will play out the same way. A surprise comes in the form of the closer “”Enduring Love.”” This is the only song seems to make their own. It’s a simple pop song driven by the drums of Phillip Sutton and an atmospheric synthesizer whilst leaving the majority of angular tendencies behind. This is the song that will incur the question, “”Why didnÕt they do more of that??

ame That Rabim’s EP could warrant such a comparison to Gang of Four is saying that they are good enough to sound like them. However, they still lack the originality and ability to build on the influence rather than recycle the sound. Jungles is just too much of another band’s sound; not enough Rahim.