New Orleans-based duo Belong aren’t exactly the most prolific pair, but they do make some interesting records. Their 2006 debut, October Language, was a densely textured, emotional electrical storm. A scorched soundscape of treated guitar-raised drones, like a jam between Abul Mogard and Fennesz, that howled all around you, and that I described – in a particularly flowery review – as a eulogy for humanity, the whole of history nose-diving, tail-spinning through Kubrick’s 2001 stargate. I get sent quite a lot of drone and ambient music, and the power of the album still really stands out. Eighteen years later, Belong are about about to release their third LP.

Realistic IX is coming care of Chicago institution, Kranky. The opening track, Realistic, in brackets “I’m Still Waiting”, is drum-machine-driven. The raw, rude rhythm recalling The Jesus & Mary Chain – post Bobby Gillespie – while the guitars are clearly influenced by MBV. Their relentless riffing and tremolo treatments throwing up a wall of noise that harbours ethereal angelic harmonies, and manufactures melody from seesawing shifts in key. Souvenir is similar, but some of the shredding spins backwards. Creating strobing, phasing effects. The ghost of a song can be heard within the rattle of Image Of Love. What’s left of it after being washed, scrubbed, by Belong’s axes. Just like Kevin Shield’s score for Lost In Translation it summons the exhilaration, and isolation, of being alone in a big city. Cut from the same sonic cloth, Jealousy is nowhere near pop, but does have a more instantly discernible hook. The spectre of some old fashioned rock ’n’ roll deep, way down in its furious thrash. Euphoric and cathartic, the rush of these tunes is like a joyride in a hot-wired jalopy, careering about cliffs, wind in your hair, head full of chemicals. Where you couldn’t care less about the imminent, inevitable crash, ’cos you’ve never felt more alive.

Crucial Years is filtered into an almost dub techno fog. AM / PM also emerges from an edgy, abrasive cloud of static. However, its haze of heavy, heavy hypnotic hammering put me in mind of Nisennenmondai’s mad, manic modern motorik. Both bands sharing the ability to lock into a groove and refuse to budge until the listener becomes a believer. The heroic distortion on Bleach will make you think you’ve got dust on your hi-fi needle.

Belong’s Realistic IX can be ordered directly from Kranky.