The Carnivorous Lunar Activities of Lupine Howl - Lupine Howl

It may take a while for the members of Lupine Howl to escape the long shadow cast by their previous, acclaimed band Spiritualized. Bassist Sean Cook and guitarist Mike Mooney (Damon Reece and John Mattock split percussion duties) don't seem to be too concerned, since their full-length debut and preceding EP continue on much of the same paths that Spiritualized carved with Pure Phase and Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space. In fact, Sean Cook's vocals are often a dead ringer for Spiritualized's main man Jason Pierce. The driving blues-rock of "125" could have been taken from the Spiritualized mold as well. Lupine Howl does give the band more freedom than they previously had, as they embrace electronic effects, synthesizers, neo-psychedelic guitar riffs, and Cook's trademark harmonica. It doesn't always result in quality songwriting, however, and that will make it more laborious to avoid the "ex-members" tag. ~ Kenyon Hopkin, All Music Guide