Handturner - Works and Shoots

11.17.23

 

Strong 6 / Light 7

 

Works and Shoots is the third full-length album from Handturner, a project created by Franki Hand and Ike Turner. If you know either of these names, it might be from their other bands, Wowza in Kalamazoo and The Kalamazoo Drone Society. Both veterans of the scene, the music they create seems to delve heavily in the sounds and aesthetics of heady and driving experimental rock and post rock (comparatively, a la Swans, who I was well reminded of while listening to this album). Mind you my experience listening to Franki and Ike’s other projects is limited only to a live performance I was able to catch of theirs as Wowza in Factory coffee, and they were an excellent act to catch live. I highly recommend this group and their various projects for any fans of more stylistically abrasive and “heady” music (experimental, post rock, no wave).

 

Getting into it, this record came out November 17th and has a runtime of 38 minutes spread out over 5 tracks. The record starts off with “Hey Killer”, and immediately plunges you into a snowy world of noise punctuated by cymbals and menacing guitars. Once the vocals kick in after the stage is set, they provide a bit of a polarizing contrast. Not just because they’re mixed louder than the rest of the instrumental, but they seem as though they were dropped right in out of a 90s inspired alt rock track and did take me out of the world of this record pretty quickly with my first couple of listens but I soon found out this is a more rewarding record with repeat listens, but more on that later. We get the first of four seamless transitions going into the next track, “Detroit’s Fifth Franchise”, where things pick up with a tight drum groove that remind me a lot of another local band, Via Ferrata, which happened to also be on the bill at the Wowza show I caught.

 

The vocals come back in to mark the start of the third track, “Ray Longo” as they swirl hypnotically amidst the chaos going on. We get to one of my favorite moments on the record at around the 6-7 minute mark, haunting synths that lead to some true contemplative beauty and helped me to reach a better level of enjoyment for what Handturner offers with this release. And with what perfect timing! Just as they fade away, “W.” comes in and takes over relentlessly. I love this track with its memorable vocal leads, driving groove, and noisy background. This for me is where all of this album’s best elements come together the best to create a brutal banger. “Owari” comes next as a 5-and-a-half minute release to all the tension built up from the last track, and the one to close out the album. Not much I can mention outside of that there’s more of what sounds like the free improv that’s been going on throughout, which is something I have a strong appreciation for in music. I just wish we had something a little more memorable going on here.

 

Overall, I enjoyed this record! I do have some minor gripes with the song structuring and the mixes that hold me back from wanting to say that this is an exceptional record, but the interplay between the textures and sounds on here create a chilling atmospheric experience perfect for the coming winter, and one I would recommend if any of the above that I mentioned piques your interest in any way.

 

And of course, the thoughts and opinions expressed herein are strictly my own. Please don’t take my word as gospel. I encourage you to for yourself and form your own opinions as not everything is for everybody, but there’s always something for everyone. Thank you for reading :~)

 

Track Ratings

 

1. Hey Killer (7/10)

2. Detroit’s Fifth Franchise (7.5/10)

3. Ray Longo (7/10)

4. W. (8/10)** KEY TRACK

5. Owari (6.5/10)

 

Genres: Experimental Rock / Post Rock