You Slut!

For their sophomore full-length album, Derby, Nottingham's You Slut! offer a gigantic array of varying sounds and sonic experimentation in one of the strongest instrumental releases of the year. Medium Bastard is a ten-track album of pummelling math and progressive rock, driven by a heavy dose of riffs that recall the likes of Don Caballero and At The Drive-In. What sets the four-piece apart from their instrumental brethren is a rejection of ambient, long-winded songs with heavy build-ups. They instead opt for shorter songs, with more proficient technical variations (think Hella and Japanther without the spazz or sound clips). "Elton Chong" clocks in at just over two minutes, riffs drive the album forward and constantly changing tempos make sure things don't become repetitive. "Plural Sex" is the strongest track on the album, with its playful, melodic chorus and switch in tempo midway through. With their brand of progressive math rock, You Slut! set themselves apart amidst a genre that has recently seen an influx in experimentation and variety.