Preoccupations

Band fka Viet Cong fka Women. With the name change came an implicit expectation that the music would be significantly different, but it’s not. Yet although this band is crafting the same scorching, blisteringly direct post-punk, I still find it really great. It’s more in line with Ought, and basically a more accessible rehash of the previous album. The most noticeable difference is that the vocals are brighter in the mix and the lyrics are more discernible. Strands of gothic pop come through often and there’s less noise/droning vocals/experimental fun. A little uninspired but still a solid release and an exciting listen front-to-back. No FCCs.

1. (4:29) ** Anxiety—One minute ambient intro gives way to a propulsive beat, dense and gloomy guitars, some synths
2. (2:53) *** Monotony—Chiming guitars, relentless march, frantic still gleaming
3. (3:43) *** Zodiac—Hectic, sorta Thee Oh Sees, builds up in layers of effects, brief quivering melodic breakdown before it gets angular again
4. (11:26) **** Memory—Epic. Strong funky bass and jagged guitar turn into an outsized synthy arena rock jam. Dissolves into brooding waves of white noise
5. (4:00) **** Degraded—“The single.” Choppy syncopated drums and guitars, synths, tremendous vocal delivery
6. (1:01) Sense—Soft, melancholy, mostly vocals and drum machine
7. (1:32) Forbidden—Weird, spacey, strung-out vox and synths, unexpected chiming guitar in last ten seconds
8. (4:41) *** Stimulation—Hyper-fast, urgent technicolor synths, guitars, 80s art rock. Gets way better in the second half. “I’m gonna die”
9. (4:31) * Fever—Spectral, vaguely gothic jam, kind of monotonous after awhile