Lofter – Ulcer (EP – Cherub Dream Records)
Genre/Influences: Industrial, Punk & Noise.
Format: Digital, Cassette.
Background/Info: This must be the third EP released by American duo Lofter. They introduce their sound as a mix between Alternative, Punk, Industrial and Noise.
Content: Let’s skip the intro to directly get the essence of “Ulcer”. It’s a sonic mayhem, a kind of Apocalyptic-Rock style or Industrial Punk-Noise if you prefer. Some passages instantly remind me of an imaginary sonic violation of Big Black while both last cuts (featuring a cover version of NIN) sound more accomplished by Electronic arrangements.
+ + + : “Ulcer” sounds like pure Underground, music reminding me of the early years of Punk and Industrial projects playing music in their cellar or garage. The heavy shouting vocals inject some rage. Both last cuts, but especially “Fade” have more potential and could serve as a basis to move on with.
– – – : The mix and sound production aren’t that professional and could be improved. But on the other hand, this is the pure sound of Underground..
Conclusion: Lofter doesn’t leave me an unforgettable impression, but I felt some nostalgia listening to “Ulcer”.
Best songs: “Fade”, “Terrible Lie”.
Rate: 5½.
Artist: www.facebook.com/calofter
Label: https://cherubdreamrecords.info
About Lofter
Lofter is an American duo based in Oakland, California, made up of Arman and CJ. Their Bandcamp page lists three releases: “Lofter” on 28 January 2016, “2” on 25 November 2017 and the “Ulcer EP” on 5 March 2021.
“Ulcer” was released on 5 March 2021 in digital and cassette formats through Cherub Dream Records, an Oakland label. Elise Wieczorek mixed the EP. The five tracks are “…”, “Rut”, “Your Life”, “Fade” and “Terrible Lie”, the last a cover of the Nine Inch Nails song from the 1989 album “Pretty Hate Machine”.
This review is Side-Line’s first entry for the duo, and “Ulcer” remains the most recent Lofter release listed on Bandcamp.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
