Dissonant, quirky. These are two words that describe the music of Blood Sport. Here’s a third: alien. From start to finish Life In Units is probably the most refreshing auditory experience you’ve had in a long time. Blood Sport have garnered considerable interest among commentators and musicians alike with their previous releases, and now this. Life In Units is their debut LP, bringing together material from earlier releases with new songs. It seems that where songs like ‘Dolla Make Me Holla’ existed on an earlier EP, the band have rehashed and re-recorded for the sakes of homogeny. Perhaps any statement concerning Blood Sport at this point, when so many recognised authorities have already had their say, may well be an exercise in futility, nevertheless…
The first track, “Wood Cutter” makes no excuses for itself. A sustained whir jostles with guitar, drums and vocals, the impression is of listening on a beat up old radio, perhaps even the last radio in the world, and listening at the furthest point from civilization. This racket introduces what seems to be preoccupying theme here: stress, or rather, sonic stress. Throughout the record singer Nick Potters vocals are pulled apart, twisted and tortured and then put back together against frenzied and sometimes dissonant arrangements. The repetitive, harsh guitar strums on ‘Clasp My Head’ are a perfect example in the way that they heighten the anxiety of Potter’s vocals while the surging bass constantly generates pressure against another more frenetic guitar and seemingly skew-whiff drums.
This sonic stress finds an outlet on tracks like “Palomar”, which is easily the most accessible number on the album with its fluid bass and distorted, layered guitar sound. Potter’s disaffected groans and hollers flirt with a more narrative mode here, though his themes are still wonderfully depressing. Each song is vividly realised through lush guitars, fluid bass and superior drumming. Although there is much going on in Life In Units that may well perplex the casual listener even if it inspires the musician, which is surely the reason why they have found fans amongst bands like Wet Nuns and The Yardbirds (probably not The Yardbirds).
Don’t just take my word for it, at some point your going to want to find these things out for yourself. However, and for what its worth, I recommend this album. You can buy it here ( but…like… only if you want to): www.bloodsport.bandcamp.com
Conner May
The first track, “Wood Cutter” makes no excuses for itself. A sustained whir jostles with guitar, drums and vocals, the impression is of listening on a beat up old radio, perhaps even the last radio in the world, and listening at the furthest point from civilization. This racket introduces what seems to be preoccupying theme here: stress, or rather, sonic stress. Throughout the record singer Nick Potters vocals are pulled apart, twisted and tortured and then put back together against frenzied and sometimes dissonant arrangements. The repetitive, harsh guitar strums on ‘Clasp My Head’ are a perfect example in the way that they heighten the anxiety of Potter’s vocals while the surging bass constantly generates pressure against another more frenetic guitar and seemingly skew-whiff drums.
This sonic stress finds an outlet on tracks like “Palomar”, which is easily the most accessible number on the album with its fluid bass and distorted, layered guitar sound. Potter’s disaffected groans and hollers flirt with a more narrative mode here, though his themes are still wonderfully depressing. Each song is vividly realised through lush guitars, fluid bass and superior drumming. Although there is much going on in Life In Units that may well perplex the casual listener even if it inspires the musician, which is surely the reason why they have found fans amongst bands like Wet Nuns and The Yardbirds (probably not The Yardbirds).
Don’t just take my word for it, at some point your going to want to find these things out for yourself. However, and for what its worth, I recommend this album. You can buy it here ( but…like… only if you want to): www.bloodsport.bandcamp.com
Conner May