March 2004



grafikmagazine.co.uk

The Cooperage, Newcastle
13th June 2005

The acclaimed Carlisle trio were here to support Pillow and a disappointing crowd witnessed an early support slot. They played a set of instrumental rock, which moved between angry noise and beautiful silence. They were epic and grand in scale as they played a four track set which showcased their eclectic take on post rock.
Underneath the noise, there is a sense of melodic euphoria underpinning every track and the band create soundscapes with military drumming meeting catchy riffs as they launch you into a chaotic world. To the uninitiated, instrumental rock can be formulaic and boring but the band play with a relentless nature and the quiet loud structure never becomes Mogwai by numbers as they constantly refresh the template. It was an attention grabbing set by the trio and one, which has further added to their already burgeoning reputation.
- Ian Todd

thecrackmagazine.com

On its second EP, Mondegreens, CtrlAltDelete create some heavily atmospheric sounds that could easily be mistaken for the work of a much louder, metal based act. It must be the bass--a wave of claustrophobic droning blankets everything in site, retreating on occasion for a breif respite from the dark overhead and allowing the guitar to get in some cute licks which call upon a memory of Explosions in the Sky, and maybe some Mogwai on a bright sunny day. Although CtrlAltDelete has the backing of an independent label (MotiveSounds), it has cruised under the radar for much too long. How could this talented trio have alluded the eyes of some of the internet's better researchers? It is a mystery to me, but now the world will hear the ferocious roar of CtrlAltDelete. The four tracks offered on the band's second EP blister and crackle, bursting with so much energy that they tear at the seams and threaten the foundation they rest upon. "Your Aggression, My Venture" explodes into a warm, engulfing wave of cataclysmic...

decoymusic.com

ctrlaltdelete are a three piece band. They use drums, bass and guitar. The band have a large sound that envelops you as you listen. This, their 2nd EP is released on Motivesounds recordings on Sept. 19th.
ctrlaltdelete. They have no need for words. They have no need to say anything. This band let the power of their music do the talking. This EP contains 4 big and bold tracks that offer equal measure of power and subtlety.
This could be called post-rock. But that wouldn't be fair. I could compare the band to Mogwai and Godspeed, You Black Emperor. But that wouldn't be fair. These are full blown songs that ctrlaltdelete deal in.
Unlike Godspeed, these aren't fragments welded together. These are full on songs. Without vocals. An instrumental rock band. They use quiet and loud and louder and quieter very well - as the tracks build and flow. You are taken on a journey. This is a world away from the chorus driven bands that I have been listening to lately. This EP landed on my door mat at just the right time. Sometimes a...

lostmusic.co.uk

CtrlAltDelete are a band that really should be recognized a bit more in the UK. Being a bastard son of the sonic musicianship of bands such as Mono, Slint, Aereogramme, Mogwai, and Explosions In The Sky having an orgy, CtrlAltDelete are immediately impressive in their list of bands that spring to mind.
Opener to the ‘Mondegreens’ EP, ‘Each Of These…’ is a beautiful piece of work. It moves along with an assured peacefulness and is powerful in its gorgeous musicianship. ‘All Our Greatest Memories Are In Sepia’ is perhaps even more moving. The bass work is fascinating in its rhythm, and perhaps for the first time in any review I’ve given the bassist stands centre stage in terms of what impresses me most. Whilst the gentle guitar work and assured drumming are wonderful, it’s really the bass work that sets the band apart from any other act trying to create this type of music. The band on this second track of their second EP, sound like where Pelican were going on their recent opus. Whereas...

sounddevastation.co.uk

Editor's Pick

Motivesounds Recordings second release is ctrlaltdelete’s “Mondegreens” and is limited to a mere five hundred. And once word gets out about how incredibly amazing this album is, that certainly won’t be enough pressings. “Mondegreens” is awesome and certainly not in the cheerleader way of the word but instead with its true meaning. For folks who haven’t gotten their fill of the post-rock nautical ride of bands like Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, and Godspeed! You Black Emperor, believe me you will love to gnash your teeth on this tremendous band. I just wish it was longer than four songs!
- J-Sin

smother.net

‘mondegreens’ is the second release on the newly established Motivesounds Recordings label (http://www.motivesounds.com). Hailing from the distinctly unglamorous environs of Carlisle – Ben Maxwell (guitar), Laura Harrison (bass) and Chris Hewitt (drums) create a glorious post rock racket that recalls the early rage of Mogwai and the epic squall of prime Godspeed You Black Emperor! The song titles may have a distinctly sixth form-ish air to them – check out “Each Of These Innocents On The Street Is Engulfed By A Terror Of Their Own Ordinariness” – but this is the only detectable flaw to this impressive release.

godisinthetvzine.co.uk

A band sending substantial ripples out over the current post-rock landscape, ctrlaltdelete may not be messing with a formula thats already thrown up such great names as Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky and Gossiped! You Black Emperor! - but they're carrying on the tradition with masterful grace.
Anyone having heard Mogwai's debut album will know exactly what to expect here, lengthy instrumental songs with skittery beats that sound like spiders dancing on the drum skins and liquid guitar work that veers between angular riffing, gently struck chords and walls of glorious white noise. EACH OF THESE INNOCENTS ON THE STREET IS ENGULFED BY A TERROR OF THEIR OWN ORDINARINESS, is the kind of atmospheric mood piece to soundtrack your life - a melodic bass line underpinning the intricate guitar work and shifting drum patterns. Not something to tear up the post-rock rulebook by any means, but when that rulebook is so special, why bother?...

ukmusicsearch.co.uk

4 track mini album/ep that wont take much to describe. falling into the genre of post rock the tracks all follow the same pattern. quiet delicate guitars and swoonsome melodies are backed up by gentle warm bass line and subtle drums all of which lulls the listener into a false sense of sonic security, as the delicate indie strummings give way to the onslaught of sonic chaos, when the effects pedals are hammered to death, the volume turned all way to eleven and generally soundtracking the beginning of the end of civilisation. which may sound like something that should not grace anyones stereo system. well, that's plain wrong, because, despite the massive noise and layers, there is a warm beating heart at the core of these instrumental affairs, as well as the fact that when the band pull back from the edge, they really do know how to form some fine melodic guitar music, and, even during the full on cacophony there is often an air of mystery and melancholy (or is it tension as the listener is...

ireallylovemusic.com

Motivesounds Recordings is a new record label based in Carlisle UK.planning to promote independent and original music with a fresh perspective. Well, their first three releases certainly fit the bill containing some innovative and powerful music.
Next up Ctraltdelete offer up their second EP which mines a similar vein to Let Airplanes Circle Overhead but trades in melody rather than raw power, not to say their music lacks intensity, rather the intensity is more feeling than aggression although it would still destroy most of the indie guitar bands currently making it.
If these releases are anything to go by then Motivesound are a label worth investigating, dealing in music rather than product, long may it continue.
- Simon Lewis

terrascope.co.uk

Carlisle is not well known for its music. In fact most people do not even know which side of the border it is on.
Despite this, Ctrlaltdelete have managed not only to become one of Carlisle’s most prominent bands, but they have also been signed to Cumbria’s fastest moving label, Motive Sounds.
Their first EP 'Mondegreens' sums up their instrumental rock sound perfectly and influences of Mogwai and Slint are affluent.
Ctrlaltdelete formed in 2001 but didn’t become a recognised local band until two years later when they self released a demo and began to play live.
Guitarist Ben Maxwell and bassist Laura Harrison are both former art students from Cambridge and they are currently looking for a new drummer after the previous drummer, Chris Hewitt, left the band.
'Mondegreens' opens with a gentle guitar riff before the drum beats get stronger building up to a crescendo of distorted guitar.
The second track, ‘All Our...

pennyblackmusic.com

ctrlaltdelete have clearly been listening to a lot of the awesome, awesome Red Sparowes! With track titles like “Each Of These Innocents On The Street Is Engulfed By A Terror Of Their Own Ordinariness” surely you know what you’re going to get? Some slightly pretentious post-rock that’s what! Riffs aren’t kicked out at the conception stage either, with “Patter, Chance And Menace” sounding like it’s come off the splendid new Pelican CD. For once however these guys are British, coming from Carlisle no less. So finally some great home talent in this field to shout from the rooftops about!
It’s great to see a UK band actually doing something different, and whilst sure comparisons can be made to peers like Red Sparowes, Isis and Pelican they are in a genre that encourages experimentation and ctrlaltdelete have taken that in their stride. Occasionally sounding like a far more beefy version of God Speed this impressive EP “mondegreens” on newly formed Motive Sounds Recordings is...

staticdomain.com

The caps-lock challenged ctraltdelete are from the musical wasteland that is Carlisle. Geographically, this puts them closer to the bustling music metropolis of Glasgow than almost all of its English counterparts and it certainly shows. Well, one particular band anyway. See if you can guess who from these clues: long, rumbling guitar-laden instrumentals with unspeakably pretentious titles like Each Of These Innocents On The Street Is Engulfed By A Terror Of Their Own Ordinariness and All Our Greatest Moments Are In Sepia.
Christ, if they were any more derivative, they would’ve called themselves Waimog. Fortunately for all concerned I’ve always been rather partial to Mogwai, and ctraltdelete make a powerful, brooding noise worthy of Stuart Braithwaite and co in the halcyon days before they became soft as shite (and, no, of course I wouldn’t say that to his face; he’s not bloody tall enough). Strangely enough, whilst listening to this EP for the first time, I was overcome...

soundsxp.com

Ctrlaltdelete are a Carlisle based three piece and this is their second EP release. The first track on this release Ctrlaltdelete go with the philosophy that there is no need for lyrics. They are more than a post rock band because easily you could throw lyrics on these tracks. "Each Of These Innocents On The Street Is Engulfed By A Terror Of Their Own Ordinariness" is simply put a epic track. The last half of the song when they seem to really get loud is breathtaking. "Patter, Chance and Menace" is a menacing track. The band really showcase there talents here. Guitar is just heavy, fast and distorted, a very powerful track indeed. "Your Aggression, My Anger" has the quiet to loud method and they are certainly not afraid to get loud here. Ctrlaltdelete really impressed me with this release. Their four tracks are all huge in scope but very enjoyable to listen to and they really know how to turn it up. This band could really be something special and one to follow.
- John Siwicki

comfortcomes.com

I used to hate “ctrl,” “alt,” and “delete.” Used in succession, it only meant one thing - reboot. That’s right! Your computer is fucked and there is nothing you can do. Accept defeat and hit those keys. Anything you were working on is lost forever. But now, I’m kind of fond of them. UK post-rock trio Ctrlaltdelete has redefined those keys as a means to elation instead of frustration.
Their four-song EP, Mondegreens, begins with the song “Each of These Innocents on the Street is Engulfed by a Terror of Their own Ordinariness.” Fortunately the music that comprises the song is not long-winded like its name. Instead, we are treated to upbeat guitar melodies and smooth-flowing drumming arranged in quite a dynamic manner. The result is not unlike the material of Explosions in the Sky and The Rum Diary.
On the next track, “All out Greatest Memories are in Sepia,” Ctrlaltdelete intensify things. Guitarist Ben Maxwell makes significant use of his distortion pedals this time around. The path taken falls in line with...

scenepointblank.com

I have a slight problem straight away. The press release says that the ctrlaltdelete EP mondegreens cannot be described but only shared. That makes me kind of redundant. Well I will try my best but if it all goes t**s up it’s not my fault.
Mondegreens is a 4 track EP of well crafted music. The musicians are all very talented and the production quality is excellent. Each of these innocents on the street is engulfed by a terror of their own ordinariness that isn’t my view but is the title of track one. Straight away I think of gothic castles and atmospheric landscapes mixed in with Grunge laced guitar. A strong rhythmic spine runs through the track. Their songs are proclaimed as epic by some and the orchestration is vast with lots of tempo changes as the guitars, drums, blips and effects are mixed up and changed.
Track two All our greatest memories are in sepia and I’m struck by the similarities to the last track. They are not carbon copies but more the work of a great sound engineer who has...

glasswerk.co.uk

This second release from Cumbrian-based independent label Motivesounds Recordings promises much from the new enterprise, following on from last months debut release ‘Systems and Drafts’ by Russo-Swedish artist Skoud.
Ctrl Alt Delete are an instrumental post-rock band, for want of a better term. As their press release dictates, they make ‘epic’ music, inspired by the likes of Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, and Godspeed! You Black Emperor.
But unlike their influences, they don’t just put together short fragments of well-timed noise; they make songs. And their songs are like mini-adventures, taking the listener through various states of mind and ‘out of body’ environments. These are structured beautifully to reflect the emotion and musicianship of this young three piece.
Many however, would be put off by the titles off the four tracks on offer here, for fear of being greeted by a predictable dose of pretentious art-school babble. However, it’s palpable that the titles do reflect the true...

skiddle.com

Godspeed you chosen architects! Oscillating guitars shriek about my head. Death rattle stutters echoed between glacier like glass fronted skyscrapers. The earth has fallen away but we will be alright if we never look down! There is a point 5minutes 49 seconds into track two, the mighty ‘All our greatest memories are in sepia’ when a single snare shot rings out, my heart collapses, splinters, fragmenting and sweeping down into my stomach, my lungs expand, pupils dilate, waves crash down, sweeping over me, drowning me in this womb of sound. This is bliss, fuzz filled and filthy, shot straight to the vein.
CtrlAltDelete tackle that most treacherous of musical genres. My mother has a sign in the kitchen that details women must do anything twice as well as men to be thought half as good. The same charge could be levelled at instrumental bands. It’s incredible the sins that can be hidden underneath a good vocal. CtrlAltDelete are stripped of such fears though. Conceived by founder members Ben...

hotfastunion.co.uk

Unlike many other post-rock albums, Ctrlaltdelete let fly from the start with a powerful, triumphant crescendo of guitars. Then they ease down for a moment before hammering out the guitars again with a power that seems difficult to comprehend for a mere three-piece band. The superbly-titled 'All Our Greatest Moments In Sepia' may sound like a Mogwai track and there are easy comparisons to be made as the slow parts ache like the Scottish act at their most forlorn. In the last few years it's fair to say there have been a number of records which follow a similar formula to 'Mondegreens'; a formula in which guitars range from the subtle and chiming to the downright apocalyptic. However, the regular key changes and tempo shifts ensure that interest is maintained.
- Jon

leonardslair.co.uk

You should not waste your time reading any further; there are only 500 copies of Mondegreens available. GO AND BUY ONE NOW! I'll still be here.
Ok so you got one? That was close. Now I'll tell you what I think.
Following on the heels of their sold out 'EPOne' this instrumental trio construct music so complete with grandeur and power, so disarming and dignified that it is hard to fathom what architectural secrets were passed down, what maps were inherited that unlocked the doors to allow such heart and eloquence, such sheer bloody mindedness and commitment to be captured on tape. In minutes Ctrlaltdelete teach me to love, destroy me with heartbreaking beauty and give me comprehension of the meaning of creation, yet there is nothing ethereal about the four tracks contained within, many instrumental bands become soundtracks, background musings allowing you to wonder a path of your own choosing, only coming back to the music...

joyzine.co.uk

Work, computer damn you, work. Ah, here’s the solution. Ctrlaltdelete, an immense post rock group and post-university, come to rescue the day with their atmospheric and purely instrumental EP, just like Dirty 3. Despite The Overblown And Annoyingly Philisophical Title That U2 Usually Use Nowadays on the first track, it’s certainly listenable and thankfully not pretentious. Maybe this 3-piece have something to say, lord knows that they’re holding it in, still, ‘Patter, Chance and Menace’ is a highlight worth savouring until then.
3/5
- Johnny Nicholson

highvoltage.org.uk

Hailing from the UK, post rockers Ctrlaltdelete draw some requisite comparisons to Mogwai or Kinski with their monumental, guitar-driven rock. With the same relentless progressions of their predecessors, the four-track Mondegreens is stacked with layer upon layer of buzz-saw guitars and pedal effects that send the compositions straight into epic territory. “Your Aggression, My Venture,” the final song on the EP, breaks between ethereal melody and post rock madness with every string shredded and the drum kit beat into exhausted submission. Considering that Ctrlaltdelete is comprised of only three players, Mondegreens makes for a very intriguing debut. Look for more.
- Shelby Hast

meshsf.com

December 2005



undercovermagazine.com

December 2005



myspace.com/getrhythm

Ah, the new year, when we sort through the stacks of crap littering our desks and find stuff we had intended to listen to and review for the Rubber Room weeks ago. Which is our loss, really, especially if we happened to be really into Mogwai a few years back. Not that ctrlaltdelete sound too much like Come On Die Young, but they're from the same lineage of instrumental rock bands that do best over longer stretches of time (all four tracks here hover around the 6-7 minute mark) and convincingly but a bit predictably build from slight openings into what could be called “the good bits.” “All Our Greatest Memories Are In Sepia” and the extra-strong “Your Aggression, My Venture” in particular provide strong fodder for headbanging without ever bringing in some guy in an Iron Maiden shirt to sing about the devil.
- Ian Mathers

stylusmagazine.com

January 2006



kerrang.com

February 2006



rock-sound.net

While one shouldn’t ever truly judge a book – or a record in this instance – by its cover, however wonderfully designed it is, how’s this title for telegraphing the presence of a post-rock band: ‘each of these innocents on the street is engulfed by a terror of their own ordinariness’. It’s not exactly ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’, is it?
ctrlaltdelete are a trio – one Ben, one Laura and a Simon for measure – but these four tracks sound every bit like the work of many more hands; really, this is music to which the adjective sky-scraping can effortlessly be applied without fear of stooping to cliché, or worse, of making mondegreens sound contrived in any way. While this type of detailed instrumental rock music, which occasionally gives way under the immense strain of a bombast so great cities would fall to such an assault if it were projected at their outer walls – we’ll stick with post-rock simply because it’s a convenience – has been done to death, rarely has its execution been so skilled, and so very well constructed. The gallows from...

drownedinsound.com

Everything else suddenly ceases to register. Honeycomb guitar peaks dawn on the horizon, whipped sharply into screaming focus under deluge after deluge of driven bass and syncopated, feral drums. Every moment in every song building, building until finally delivered in a glorious maelstrom before serving you up, saturated, to a forgiving shoreline, woken by gentle melody lapping at your face.
To say Ctrlaltdelete are destined for great things seems redundant. The 'Mondegreens' EP passed somewhat under the radar, but it contained rough diamonds that should have graced any self-respecting music puublication.
Formed under the dawn of the new millennium, Ctrlaltdelete operate around the nucleus of Ben Maxwell and Laura Harrison. Though the Carlisle-based trio found themselves struggling through two previous drummers, founding member Chris Hewitt and, for the devotional 'Mondegreens' sessions, Simon Papaleo, the band have settled...

new-noise.net

Let's get the ugly stuff out of the way first - ctrlaltdelete no longer exist. From surfing the murkiest depths of the internet, they decided that they'd done as much as they possibly could under the ctrlaltdelete moniker, and called it a day. But, have no fear, Mondegreens is not an EP about to disappear into the abyss of post-rock history, as ctrlaltdelete are now called Mt. (pronounced 'Mount', like A Silver Mt. Zion).
Post-rock with no strings attached is what ctrlaltdelete specialize in, and they do it very well indeed. There are no gimmicks or pretension surrounding this band, they just stick to what they're good at throughout the four tracks on this EP. All the songs are over 5 minutes long, all the tracks have long titles, and the music is made with the staple guitar, bass, and drums. ctrlaltdelete are a trio, Ben, Laura and Simon if you're interested, but on Mondegreens it sounds like the work of many more, such are the colossal sounds they produce.
Opening track "Each Of These Innocents On The Street Is...

decoymusic.com

December 2006



loewygroup.com

March 2007







creativereview.co.uk

February 2008

idnworld.com