Liam True
Having released a few singles since 2023, Swansea based Alt-noise group Baby Schillaci have finally come out with an album, perfectly dubbed The Soundtrack. The soundtrack to what exactly? Well, a fictional B-movie that highlights the anxieties of a broken society. The way that Baby Schillaci conveys this message is through their warped musicianship.
Born during the 2020 pandemic dual vocalist and guitarists Tom Richards & Richie Lewis sought out to be an unconventional band and to stand out within the rock scene. With The Soundtrack they’ve done exactly what they’ve aimed for, clashing genres from punk and noise all the way to hip hop and D&B. After the introduction of ‘## TITLE SEQUENCE ##’ we’re then greeted to the carnage that’s about to unfold by the name of ‘ULTRA HD HAPPY FACE’. Put simply, from front to back the entire album is a bludgeoning wall of sound that pulls no punches.
The production on the album further enhances the already blaring guitars of Richards & Lewis, added with their layered vocals and Lewis’ Swansea accent taking charge of a few tracks both spoken word and carrying his sweet lullaby voice. Drummer Tom Williams’ furious drumming keeps the pace of the band in check and is simplistic and complex in equal measure from his 4/4 beats to his bizarre drum fills. Bassist Andrew Evans comes through thick and meaty with his tone that rattles your brain in its caged prison.
As loud and fuzzy as the album is, there are a few instances where they slow the pace and turn down their amps and bring in a soothing feel. ‘DISINTERGRATING SMALL TALK’ is the pinnacle of slow-noisy-soothing alt music. Evans’ bass tone on this track alone makes up for the lack of bass on some rock releases as a thicker bass tone isn’t found anywhere in 2024. Across the album the influences come from all over. They’ve taken pieces of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Nick Cave and even Kendrick Lamar and the entire west coast hip hop scene. There’s no telling what you’ll hear. ‘KUMITE’ is the most baffling track on the album, in the best way possible. You can hear Igorr coming through the bass, Dave Grohl coming through the vocals, John Frusciante through the riffs and even Pink Floyd at the end. Baby Schillaci doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable topics and viscerally present them in uneasy lyrics, making them more of a weapon than their instruments.
And as the deceivingly named ‘BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA’ ends the album, you’re left puzzled, bewildered and full of mixed feelings of what you’ve heard. The Soundtrack is not just an album. It’s more of a terrifying experience than the soundtrack to the current world. If you can find a better noise album than it, then you’ve started the album again.