level plane. lp 40 / electric human project. 0.11 / 4 tracks / may 2003

D (7”): nova records. / 2003

J (CD): sonzai. so-007 / 2003

300 on red, 300 on orange, 600 on black, 4 on red/black swirl (from color switch), 100 on clear (I believe this was a limited German edition), test pressings exist too. Due to an error at the pressing plant there are 2×7” copies (150 copies I read once); first record has Hot Cross on both sides with two differently mastered versions, second record is the regular edition. German vinyl-only license pressing in conjunction with Nova records (although that name does not appear on the record), vinyl reads “Eldorado” and “LP 40” in the runout grooves. Japanese version is CD only.

The Hot Cross tracks are not in the same classic screamo vein as the ones on their 10”; they’re a bit calmer and more melodic, and even manage to sneak in some 70’s rock influences. LTFAR are more interesting; the first track is a blend of Screamo, rocking gloomy hardcore à la Tragedy, and the New York “The” bands. The second one is an instrumental, very calm… downtempo meets Ennio Morricone. Two good bands, but I like the B side better.

Hot Cross in etwas milderer Form als auf ihrer 10“; immer noch Screamo, aber etwas langsamer und melodischer, in den Gitarren gibt es sogar 70’s-Rock-Einflüsse zu hören. LTFAR spielen auf ihrem ersten Track eine interessante Mischung aus Screamo, Tragedy und den Strokes; der zweite ist ein cooles Instrumental, Downtempo meets Spaghetti-Western-Soundtrack. Zwei gute Bands, aber die B-Seite gefällt mir besser.

Tracks: Hot Cross - in memory of morvern / the eye is a tricky machine // Light the Fuse and Run - ghost town / instrumentstwo