Album Review: Mutes – …buried where you stand (Self Released)

‘…buried where you stand’ is the fourth studio album from Birmingham-based post-punk group Mutes, due for release on May 17th, 2024.

Mutes promise a stripped back experience on this record, one that aims to capture the sound of their live performances, and in that regard, it certainly delivers. This new album has a rawer and unpolished sound, but for a band that showcases a style of post-punk and alternative rock as Mutes do, that works extremely well.

Beginning the album with a bit of a statement, Transparency puts the ‘realism’ of this record front and centre. The noisy approach might not be immediately infectious, but this is a grower of a track, especially as it’s over six-minutes in length. The melodic drops are a particular highlight.

To contrast that, we then get Televangelist, which is very short and leaves a strong impression. Mainly because it is charming and infectious, with effective post-punk vibes, and plenty of noisy touches. Then along comes the moody off-kilter tone of Barely Living Proof and the melody-infused rocker that is Another Moon Song to ensure the listener is kept well and truly kept guessing as to what to expect next.

There’s nothing wrong with that as it certainly makes the anticipation of what comes next, high. It also helps that Mutes are a band you can trust to deliver something special each and every time. Further proof coming in the form of the enthusiastic Spiders Again, the weirdo punk passion of Dewired, the drone ambience of .cycles, and the noisy rock style of Great White Nothing.

You’ll be hard-pressed to not find something to enjoy, even if the creative bouncing of Mutes does mean its an up and down listen overall. Especially in the latter half of the album when they enter psychedelic locales with Perfumed Corpse and then become quite abrasive with the avant-garde mania of Mere Slaughter. It’s maddening music.

Which does result in a certain amount of lovability, especially if you spend as much time as possible with the record. It’s so far from a one and done, it needs multiple listens, something it does earn by being so damn imaginative. The cherry on top of all of this being another trippy listen called Sightless, and a mightily melodic effort called Born Again Blues. Guess what? There’s nothing else on the album quite like these tracks, which if you’ve been paying attention should be exactly what you expect.

Mutes – …buried where you stand Track Listing:

1. Transparency
2. Televangelist
3. Barely Living Proof
4. Another Moon Song
5. Spiders Again
6. Dewired
7. .cycles
8. Great White Nothing
9. Perfumed Corpse
10. Mere Slaughter
11. Sightless
12. Born Again Blues

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