Prawn

Prawn: False InstitutionsFalse Institutions (2009)
self-released

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

Contributed by: InaGreendaseBrian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on July 28th 2009Prawn sound like a reject from the network of bands Brand New tend to play with, and that's meant in the nicest way possible. While they've yet to achieve the weight and gravity of a band like them, or say, Manchester Orchestra, there's a pensive, progressive-emo slant to their False Institutions EP.

Prawn sound like a reject from the network of bands Brand New tend to play with, and that's meant in the nicest way possible. While they've yet to achieve the weight and gravity of a band like them, or say, Manchester Orchestra, there's a pensive, progressive-emo slant to their False Institutions EP that's highly enjoyable.

If you're one of the (very) few who appreciated this sort of thing on the only EP from the incredibly short-lived the Devil and the Lion, you'll find a lot to like here. As much as Tony Clark's vocals on opener "Nightmares" immediately evoke images of a weird hybrid of two parts Cove Reber (Saosin) and one part Andy Hull (MO), listeners will probably quickly adjust when the tension mounts and the atmospheres fill with lush cascades of guitars. It's a complex, wrought five minutes whose last-minute buildup and teasing fade-out catches clear signals from post-rock behemoths (see Explosions in the Sky).

That's probably another crucial element to Institutions' success. "Thousand Grains of Sand" legs out a nearly eight-minute stretch with enough compelling guitar work, complex structures and an explosive, bass-riddled fit to make the length worthy, much in the vein of Moving Mountains' more recent material -- albeit with slightly more jarring vocals. The direct admissions of "Courage Kills Men" ("You've been forced to be someone you're not. / I used to get upset, / but now I just feel bad" and "When I fall down, / I get back up. / I'm trying the best that I can.") could be thought out a bit more poetically, but they're delivered in a confidently deliberate manner that makes up for it...somewhat. The drumming on this one also sounds a little clumsy towards the end, but the mood shifts quickly when the gang vocals and claps in "Arctic Foxes" come in, highly reminiscent of fellow Jersey weirdos Trophy Scars.

Occasional expressional misfires and a fairly weird production feel aside, False Institutions is a rather promising release. Prawn know how to mix emotion and atmosphere impressively and I'd love to hear what's being cooked up for their full-length release.

STREAM
all but one track of False Institutions

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Hey_Asshole (July 29, 2009)

i thought this was for King Prawn. to which i was going to say "holy fuck, they are still together?"
and then something about not liking them

blanktapesemptybottles (July 28, 2009)

what an odd name, so good though, reminds me of Agent more than anything mentioned in the review

nocigar (July 28, 2009)

I tend to find awesome albums/artists through a shit ton of reviews on the 'org, but i think i find the most interesting ones through Brian's review..this is yet another example. cheers..and thank you again.

Blackjaw_ (July 28, 2009)

I'm really liking this.