Highly recommended.

RAT COLUMNS is a trio from San Francisco, California that generates dark, ill-fitting pop wanderings, introspective jangle and chime, mangled noises and various points between. The band was started by DAVID WEST (RANK/XEROS, BURNING SENSATION) in the isolated environs of Perth, Western Australia, and following a move to the northern hemisphere the trio format was happened upon with the addition of drummer/guitarist MATT BLEYLE (VIOLENT CHANGE, SPOONS, ABI YOYOS) and bassist JON YOUNG. The three recorded the LP Sceptre Hole in the second half of 2011. As on the previous four-song 7” (SmartGuy Records, 2011), JAMES VINCIGUERRA (TOTAL CONTROL, SOVIET VALVES, AIDS) contributed some drums to the effort. Sure, Sceptre Hole flies closer in to the pop sun than before it also keeps a toe in the murky waters of guitar noise and dour ambience.