Le Big Zero – ‘At Arm’s Length’ [EP] [Album Review]

At Arm’s Length, the latest EP from Brooklyn’s Le Big Zero offers an amalgamation of garage rock and art-rock that at times borders on the avant-garde because of antiphonal discordant tones, infusing the music with oil and water textures.

Two tracks – “Toy” and “Pay No Mind” – highlight this intense, angular sonic juxtaposition, with the former track’s dissonant tones rubbing against each other, followed by a time change, the introduction of strident guitars, and lock-step male-female harmonies. The result is a kind of lo-fi, garage rock musical storm, at once innovative and fresh.

Speaking subjectively, perhaps the best track on the EP is “Nice To Meet You,” which opens on gritty, punk-flavoured guitars and then shifts to jarring, luminous guitars, followed by reverting to the prior punk edginess. Another time change introduces the solo section, made up of duelling, piercing guitars, and exuding art-pop blended with country savours.

Another excellent track, the final song, “Spin Cycle,” mingles hints of dream-pop and garage rock, melding into a low-slung, undulating melody topped by velvety, almost dreamy vocals. A rumbling, shimmering bridge presages a delicious solo section underscored by spectral guitars and luscious harmonies. The outro forms a spectacular finish as blurry guitars shape a dense wall of sound.

At Arm’s Length features Michael Pasuit, Ben Ross, Katie Cooney, and Lukas Hirsch, who present a unique sound together as Le Big Zero.

Le Big Zero, photo by Jeanette D. Mosses

At Arm’s Length Track Listing:

1. Watch It Burn
2. Heavy Handed
3. Toy
4. Nice To Meet You
5. Pay No Mind
6. Spin Cycle

Run Time: 23:56
Release Date: June 23, 2023
Record Label: Mint 400 Records