Review: Cliffs – Saturation (2013)

By Ryan G

The two piece band Cliffs are quickly establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Saturation is an LP that has been a long time coming. The band plays and self promotes with the air of scene veterans, so the fact that Saturation is their first major full length might surprise some – and that surprise would be warranted. They have three EPs under their belt already.

What we have in Saturation is the culmination of the Cliffs career thus far – that is, a launching pad of sorts. And, what a way to build the proverbial launch tower. Saturation is loud, complex, and aggressive – yet catchy and stable enough to appeal to those less inclined toward the heavy end of the rock spectrum. There are many intense, in your face factors fusing perfectly to propel you into the sky.

“Guilty As the Next” is your favorite rocker you have never heard (as of this week, at least) since it seems to exemplify everything Cliffs is good at – creating a full sound with minimal people, writing a melody that is darn catchy, and being loud and aggressive. In fairness, the pair did have some outside help when recording the album. Mike Jones (no, not that Mike Jones) and Josh Landis from In Silent Movies (and also Jackie Stabb’s entourage) help out, as well as several members of surf rockers Comrade Question (you might recall IATU’s Q&A with Comrade’s Lee Mason back in July, when we were previewing Worst Kept Secret Fest performers).

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“Silent Summer” puts the psych in the psych garage pop moniker the band have informally given themselves. I assume informally because who really gives a crap about genre labeling in the DIY scene anyway? At least, in the serious sense? “What’s On Your Mind” offers four and a half minutes of the most righteous jam at that point in the album. This was a track that clicked on first listen – a rarity for me. There are rare moments of raw emotion, where poignance meets groove – such as in the final track “Hanging On To Friction.”

Cliffs are an underground band that succeeded in releasing a record that will click with many people on first (or second) listen. Saturation is an essential addition to your rock collection for 2013.