Since they are on the label founded by post-rock legends Mogwai, the easy thing to do is assume Errors fall into the same musical category as their label managers. The Glasgow based four piece deal primarily in instrumental music yes, but theirs focuses much more on electronic music mixed with live instrumentation. Synths and keyboards dominate their third full length "Have Some Faith In Magic" and it makes for an enticing listen.
There are still guitars in Errors' music, but they take a backseat to the electronics the majority of the time. Simon Ward and Stephen Livingstone handle the keyboards and programming, both also play guitar, while Greg Paterson is also on guitar. James Hamilton's drumming on this album is stellar, it is as integral to the music of Errors as all of the keyboards.
I've seen this band's music described as both post-electro and electro-rock, the latter probably being the most appropriate. Livingstone does add vocals on a number of tracks here, including slower paced songs like "Blank Media" and "Cloud Chamber", but they are buried under echoed effects, making them more another instrument added to the mix, indecipherable for the most part. "Magna Encarta" is a perfect mix of the electronic with rock guitar, while "Pleasure Palaces" is pure, unabashed 80's synth-pop, with Livingstone again adding vocal flourishes.
Album opener "Tusk" stands out as the best track here. With bubbling keyboards underneath, Hamilton pounding out the beats and a matching guitar and keyboard line that carries the melody, Errors bring a strange type of beauty to the proceedings with this one. It's an exhilarating song on an album that never loses its hold on you.
"Have Some Faith In Magic" was released in the U.S. January 31, 2012 on Rock Action Records.

Comments