Formed in 2002 and with only an EP to their name until now, Leeds-based quartet Immune have clearly spent a lot of time creating, writing and recording this debut album - and it shows. The robotic figures on the cover reminded me of a blend between German electro pioneers Kraftwerk and Peter Gabriel. Similarly, the influences on the music weaves across several decades, evoking memories of King Crimson, Radiohead, Tool, Massive Attack and Muse.  

With a running time close to an hour, this is a compelling release, although this may not be obvious first time around. Like the band themselves, the listener will need time to consider the contents as they gradually draw you in and, eventually, the whole thing makes perfect sense, from the gentle chord sequences of the opening ‘Ask’ to the brief yet delicate closing ‘Questions’. In between, the band take you on a complex and astonishing journey that marks this out as one of the most important, and breathtaking, debut releases you will hear this year. 

‘Human’ is a dark and brooding number with a stark opening, gradually building layer upon layer of keyboards and complete with an emotion-drenched vocal from the outstanding Paul Tinsley, and leads into the sonic meltdown of ‘Monkey’, with it’s howling hook line delivered against a chaotic backdrop. ‘Monkey’ is one of the albums truly outstanding tracks, together with the powerful ‘Selling Screen’, a seven minute epic that is driven along by a hypnotic bass-line. Elsewhere, ‘Forever’ is a mixture of light and shade that boasts a complex and schizophrenic arrangement that would make Thom Yorke proud, the whole thing culminating in a crescendo of sound followed by a period of quiet reflection. On occasion the band expand their sound even further with some success; using horns on the instrumental ‘Sum’, a gentle piano to lead the ballad ‘Monatomy’ and the strains of viola and cello on the enigmatically titled ‘***’’, another near seven minute piece.  

For a debut album this is a remarkable release and Immune are clearly a band with huge potential. Having delivered such a bold and adventurous CD the challenge now will be for them to replicate it on stage and carry the momentum through into the next studio project. On this evidence, don’t bet against them being very successful in doing just that. 

‘1/f’ is released on November 20^th through Gizeh Records. For more information, including upcoming live dates, check out www.be-immune.com

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Track List

Ask
Human
Monkey
Flux
Sum
Forever
Selling Screen
Monatomy
***
Consume
Questions

Line Up

Paul Tinsley
Rich Blakey
Adam Tinsley
Shorn Keld