A-tota-so
I Told You So
bUTTONpUSHER
A-tota-so are a band who have experimentation hardwired into their DNA. Guest vocalists defined their early career; a constant stream of different singers reshaping the band and how they worked. For their third album, I Told You So, guitarist Marty Toner steps forward as lead singer, a move that’s as risky as anything in their past and in a case of fortune favouring the brave, it really works. While the band still has fluidity and a sense that their sound could flow in any direction, they now have a thread to stitch their songs together. As the long player makes a resurgence as an art form, it’s well timed; Marty’s voice, along with the overarching themes of mental anguish and the crushing pressure of society, gives I Told You So a concept feel. From the dislocation of opening track ‘Death Rattle’ to the liberation of final cut ‘Raykens’ via the frantic bursts of energy found on the likes of ‘No Tears No Sound’, I Told You So is the type of album that can be consumed in one sitting. On their endless quest, A-tota-so have found new musical avenues to explore.
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Reviewed by Peter Dennis