The Vanishing Lines: No Replacement Found

By Jon Milton

Shall we take a trip? ‘No Replacement Found’, the debut album by The Vanishing Lines is quite a journey. At times it feels like an expedition to a dystopian world, gloriously harsh noise and menacing repetition coming together to pummel the senses (in a good way), yet by the time the record comes to its natural conclusion the overwhelming feeling is one of calm.

The Vanishing Lines is the brainchild of Ian Smith, a fellow writer on this blog, ably assisted by Stephen Lawrie of Telescopes and Jake Taylor. Recorded at the Kingdom of Heaven in deepest, darkest Shropshire and released by Little Cloud Records the album is comprised of six songs, or feelings as the band say. 

Opener Plague Dog is an unsettling start, dissonant sounds colliding to form a mesmeric wall of sound. Denazification follows, introduces brooding drone rock, drenched in feedback and repetition drawing influences from early Jesus and Mary Chain and Loop. Mag D’Sars forms an interlude of sorts, a haunting piece and brief respite before the bleeps and immersive noise come back in with Comber Storker. Ships and Low bring the album to its natural conclusion, bringing in a sense of peace amidst the tumultuous clamour .

No Replacement Found feels almost filmic at times, designed to challenge the listener and invoke different emotions with every twist and turn. The band suggest that ‘subtle nuances leap out at every listen providing space and claustrophobia in equal measures’ which seems an apt description. Sit back, turn it up loud and enjoy the ride. 

Listen to / Buy No Replacement Found at https://vanishinglines.bandcamp.com/album/no-replacement-found