For five dollars, this CD is a steal. It’s cheaper than most cover charges, yet the sound you get is akin to being in some dank club watching the opener before the opener. One of those bands that you’ve never heard before, and you came early just to get a seat at the bar, one of three other people watching the band (this includes the bartender, doorman, and sound guy).
Don’t get me wrong — Erode + Disappear isn’t a bad album, and the rawness of it actually works it in its favor. If it was a polished and well-produced album, the inconsistencies and weakness might overpower the experience. As it stands, Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties have created an album that definitely sounds original. Nothing about it is hackneyed or overdone. Definitely a keeper.
Tag: Erode and Disappear
Northern Liberties – Erode and Disappear (Punk Planet #56, July/August 2003)
A wild three piece led by a fuzz bass, Northern Liberties follows the hallowed footsteps of Baltimore’s Lungfish. Lyrical meanderings about the human existence and the confinements of definition set to monotonous tones – if it sounds pretentious, that’s because it probably is. Props for the Harry smith cover art, though.
— Punk Planet (Issue #56, July/August 2003)
Erode and Disappear CD
Released: July 1st, 2003
Title: Erode and Disappear
Details: Our first full length CD, 1000 copies professionally pressed. Featuring cover art work by Harry Smith, includes lyrics.
Label: Worldeater Records WAR002
Tracks:
01. Communicator
2. Monarch
3. Spectral Evidence
4. Bio-Vac
5. Time is Mine
6. Open Case
7. One Star in Sight
8. Operation
9. Eye of Jupiter
10. Concourse
11. Past Out
12. Devil Song
13. Dog Skies
14. Ultra Light
15. Disorganized
16. Conditioned
17. Suction
Listen on the BC Page
Available now at the merch store at https://northernliberties.bandcamp.com/merch
Northern Liberties – Erode and Disappear (Maximum Rocknroll #240, May 2003)
This has an indescribable old quality to it. HICKEY comes to mind at certain points, given the diversity of the arrangements and the surreal bent of the lyrics, but it’s nowhere near that brilliant. I can hear some BUZZCOCKS, which I always enjoy, but for the most part this band refuses to define itself. I’ve always seen that as a good thing, but if you scare easy and don’t want your precious punk bands to play anything but GORILLA BISCUITS covers, avoid this. Still, I’m kind of partial to it.
— Reviewed by Max Tremblay
Maximumrocknroll (Issue #240, May 2003)