Unheard(ish): Q and not U — On Play Patterns/Different Damage (2002)
Q and not U deserve your attention. I titled this “Unheard-ish” because Different Damage got a good amount of attention in the world of indie music upon its release, and for good reason. It’s an incredible album with a great story, but it never received the wide spread attention it deserves.
The band released their debut album NO KILL NO BEEP BEEP in 2000 as a 4 piece. After touring that album, bassist Matt Borlik left the band. The three remaining band members pressed on and evolved as a trio. They experimented with new ways of incorporating rhythm without a dedicated bass player and believe it or not, it worked. It also helped that John Davis is one hell of a drummer. The way this band uses rhythm and experimentation is astounding. To hang on to their “DC sound” while doing that, is a whole ‘nother level of incredible.
They released a two song 7" ON PLAY PATTERNS in April of 2002 and gave a taste of how they figured out their new relationship as a band. The song Soft Pyramids was very different than anything they had released before:
Soft Pyramids
The three things that stand out listening to this new song: Rhythm, Melodica and Spelling. Two of those things were not used on their debut album. It’s quite a different step.
DIFFERENT DAMAGE came out in October of 2002. The album starts with new recordings of the two songs they released six months earlier and then goes into an assault of experimentations with sound. Hand claps, harmonies, bells and whistles; everything unexpected works on this album.
To get back into a studio and experiment the way Christopher Richards, Harrison Klahr and John Davis did together to create something that sounds this unique, clear and amazing is nothing short of amazing. I can’t imagine the dedication (or luck) it took, but I think it deserves your eyes, ears and imagination. Check it out for yourself.
DIFFERENT DAMAGE
