THE DEATH SET "To" CD   $8.75 - Buy CD

With jury-rigged equipment and fuzzed-out distortion laden vocal elements The Death Set genre-smash through their U.S. debut, To, with a fierce intensity that is so joyously abrasive your finger becomes itchy on repeat over and over.

Originally formed in Sydney, Australia, The Death Set has traversed the world to settle in the US and release their debut EP: To through RabbitFoot Records (a new specialty imprint of Morphius Records). Comprised of U.S.-repatriate visual artist Beau Velasco and gifted engineer/playboy Johnny Siera, both of whom sing blistering co-lead and play guitar against ingeniously crafted post-casiotone backing tracks, reminiscent of digitized robot nightmares. The Death Set entice listeners with an addictive parody of pop-art that ruptures tympanums and excites even the most jaded heard-it-all-before record slaves. Sometimes harmonizing, other times curdling with raw emotive vigor, the Death Set defy classification yet manage to appeal to the most diversely comprised audiences in recent memory.

Born out of Sydney’s experimental rock outfit, Black Panda, The Death Set’s “To” will appeal to fans of Japanther, xbxrx, Lighting Bolt, and early Cibo Matto. Aggressive yet sweet there is a lonely desperation hidden in the fuzzed-out vocal and occasionally genderless narratives. “Negative Thinking”, the standout single from the EP, is an exploration of self-loathing and realization punctuated with the unforgettable individualist refrain “in hindsight, I don’t want to be like the people I’ve liked”. With timelessly catchy mantras like this, the music manages to speak to all ages of the disenchanted and disenfranchised.

CD features original artwork by Beau Velasco on gorgeous gatefold cardboard packaging. First 1000 copies includes limited edition signed poster inside package.

Songs:

1. Paranoia
2. Negative Thinking
3. Intermission
4. Distressed
5. Boys/Girls
6. Snap
7. Around The World

Audio Samples:

Distressed - MP3

Reviews:

Baltimore’s newly adopted Australian spazz-punk duo hit the ground running with To, a freshly remastered EP that showcases the year-old band’s frenetic, exuberant D.I.Y. aesthetic in 20-some breathless, high-energy, eardrum-throttling minutes. The Death Set’s unique, infectiously catchy sound is heavily reliant on drum machines, laptops, intelligently exploited samples from television and hip-hop, and simple guitar riffs and keyboard parts that carom off of each other like pinballs. But the band’s real strength stems from their layered vocal stylings— Beau Velasco’s throaty wail supports and augments Johnny Siera’s Buzzcockian shrieks, creating a completely new voice that is far greater than the sum of its parts. Every so often, the whole operation collapses into a gut-wrenching, wordless wail that seems set to become the duo’s trademark. Unlike many punk outfits, The Death Set infuses their lyrics with playfulness and positivity. Once you figure out what they’re saying through their jury-rigged microphones (created by gutting old telephones and antique radio mikes), it’s hard not to sing along with lines like “if I felt cynicism I’d wrap it in a blanket of discontentment—fuck that!”(“Negative Thinking”) or “it’s a top-secret mission and our enemies are wishin’ that they had a bigger gun” (“Around The World”) For those who managed to get a hold of To in its earlier, non-RabbitFoot incarnation, this EP includes a brand-spanking-new track, “Boys/Girls.” Stomping along on a killer swampy bassline, this paean to the perils of being an effeminate rock boy finds Siera squealing “it’s easier to get boys than girls, ‘cause faggy boys don’t get them wet!” and features the catchy refrain “How fru-stra-ting!” Of course, it’s impossible to capture the raw, sweaty, destructive punk energy of The Death Set’s Copycat warehouse shows on disc, but To is a great snapshot of a young band on the make—giddy, accomplished, and over far too soon. Thank goodness for repeat buttons — J. Bowers, Beatbots

Formed in Sydney, Australia, but now based in the U.S., this duo- comprised of visual artist Beau Velasco and engineer/ “playboy” Johnny Siera- play aggressive and vigorous, yet highly infectious and hyperkinetic electronic pop//punk. Each fleeting tune (only a few crack the two-minute mark) features raw ‘n’ dirty keyboards, fuzzed –out guitars, distorted and occasionally shouted vocals, and intermittent but well-integrated samples. Sometimes they bring to mind a trashier cross between The Rezillos and Devo (the EP’s most hummable track “Intermission,” even recalls Toni Basil’s “Mickey!”). At other times, they hint at the harsh, piledriving attack of Wire’s most recent output especially on punkier tunes “Distressed” and “Boys/Girls.” This is guaranteed to have you dancing around the room and perhaps even breaking a few household items in the process. — Big Takeover

My goodness, I’ve never come across a band that I so quickly fell in love with like I have The Death Set. This quick little ten-minute EP simply titled To has more substance and bizarre, attractive instrumentation and songwriting than a lot of full length albums that run over an hour. The Death Set combine punk riffs with spazzy, experimental indie math rock and sharp, biting lyrics that are mostly yelled to give you the most energetic, raucous and untamed ten minutes of your life. Check out the ultra-catchy, burned-on-your-mind forever “Negative Thinking” that will have you mindlessly singing the chorus for days after hearing it. Or delve a little deeper into the eccentric and out-of-control “Snap”, which mixes a semi-decent drum beat and bass line with sporadic explosions of machine-gun drum beatings and keyboard grinding throughout its whopping one minute and thirteen seconds. For a tamer listen try the closer “Around the World”, which reminds me of early Sigue Sigue Sputnik and is one of the softer things you’ll likely hear from this band. Yet despite all the spasmaticism (yeah, I made that one up), The Death Set has this uncanny ability to rock you gently with a user-friendly and supple synth beat throughout. I dare you to give these guys a try. As for me, I’ll be the first in line at the record store when they release new material, which, at the quick pace they’re rocking to on this EP, should be often. For fans of Animal Collective and Deerhoof. — Anitmusic

Maybe my odd attraction to The Death Set started when I caught a glimpse of their vivid, morbid cover artwork by band member and visual artist Beau Velasco, and fell immediately in love. Perhaps this strange devotion to The Death Set derived from their resemblance to a now disbanded local band called Venus Diode, in which I still long for. Okay, let’s face it: I took a liking to The Death Set simply because they make me dance around my bedroom like a fanatical nut. Originally formed in Sydney, Australia, To is the band’s debut EP in the United States and features seven short, fast, synthesizer-heavy tracks often described as “digitized robot nightmares” If this is the case, these hypothetical nightmares would include visions of pixie sticks, energy drinks, large, gnarly, leafless trees, cloudy night skies, full moons, and helium balloons. Velasco, along with Johnny Siera, sing together in shrill, high-pitched voices that at times remind me of Gravy Train, at others, Melt Banana, and even sometimes, The Locust. Dig highly infectious, dark and insightful electronic dance tracks? Pick this CD up immediately, weirdo! — Verbicide