Gang of Four - Content Review by Shawn Abnoxious

Although originally released in 2011, Gang of Fours fully Content is new to me as of October of now... I'm just four years late. This time... But this isn't uncommon to me. It happens all the time... The hunt for music within my chosen genre has never been easy... It's actually getting easier but never easy. The same element that made Gang of Four memorable on their infinite classic Entertainment back in the burgeoning punk/post-punk situation, is still recognizable on Content. The music bites with its energy and sarcasm striking deep with rhythm that makes you wanna dance—with guiltful bliss.

I'm verily reluctant to pick up new releases from older bands... Is 'it' still there? Was that magic era truly so great that now, snobs like me should know better? Well, the answer is complicated. First with WIRE... Then T.S.O.L. and now, it takes Gang of Four to give me confidence to day YES!

The same technology that has made things easy and only a few 'clicks' away is working against snobs like me. It's easy to hit a buttonless button* and move on to the new thing. It took several listens for Content to sink-in... How many people out there would do the same? Just by chance, making myself listen to the Content as a whole, repeatedly, because of my consumer guilt of spending $5.00 on a used CD, I found that thing, again, with a truly avant-garde band that deserves another chance.

The fact that I'm writing about this release now— just as Gang of Four have released a brand new CD— is ironic at best... Have I learned my lesson? Finally? I fucking hope so.

Listen to "Content"

http://youtu.be/QGQ5fiA3xlo

Re-read the review I wrote on T.S.O.L.'s "Disappear"

http://shawnabnoxious.blogspot.com/2014/09/t-s-o-l-disappear-cd.htmli

Listen to "Object 47" by Wire

http://youtu.be/OS5NCsYTbbY

Read about the OTHER 'Gang of Four'

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_of_Four

* I consider a 'touch-screen' button, like on iPads, buttonless buttons.

Knife The Symphony / Smoke Signals... Review by Shawn Abnoxious

Once punk-rock ethics invade your space, its hard to do things any other way... 'If you want it, do it!' is ingrained in your head from the very start... Yeah, everyone knows the number one rule about split releases... Bands sharing a record, is bands spreading their product to others... Phratry Records has refined what the split record mission is, or was. Releases from Phratry are a product of love and respect. Each release calculated to accompany the ever growing history of not only the local scene, but the whole inner scene of networking that seemed to come along with every release made.

The Record is a 12EP that spins at 45 RPMs allowing three songs by each band that serves the roles of ambassadorship that comes as no surprise showcasing a true Cincinnati landmark, The Roebling Suspension Bridge. The 'test bridge' for the much bigger Brooklyn Bridge. SMOKE SIGNALS... representing Newport, Kentucky and Knife The Symphony from the Cincinnati side. The album jacket is two-color screen printthat looks as if it was reverse engineered from a different release of a Phratry Records Knife The Symphony and Dead Tongues release and glued back-together... Or is that just the official Thwart copy? Quick, go check your copy and look. I will wait... In fact, go get me a beer while your up... And a cup of coffee... I prefer to drink a coffee and Guinness simultaneuosly...

On the Knife side... I dont know what has gotten into these guys but the last two songs, "Fade Away" and "Last Dance" are fucking amazing and represent a different look of sonic dissonance and glory of minimal 'note-riding' that I must admit now, dear Thwart reader, that number amoung the best Knife stuff I think Ive heard yet. These two songs got me wondering about what happened to make Knife turn it up a notch? Theres a story there... The songs represent a fevered approach that sets about nothing except beautiful speculation and assuredness that indeed, Knife The Symphony is evolving. Still. Again. Wow.

My introduction to Smoke Signals grew on me the more I listened. I know how that sounds, but I dont mean it in any negative way. I take time listening to stuff and really give it a going-over... Whereas the screamo style of vocals and heavy sustain is there in Smoke Signals songs, the opera element and sychronicity of the vocals with the forward push of the drums, develops into reminding me about a great band called The Commonwealth along with the song structuring that may or may not be as complex as it sounds to me, that ultimatly, brings to mind Roy Orbison and RUSH. Yeah. I just said that, and I mean it too.

So, as usual, Phratry Records gives forth a product that is truly a great listen. I suggest that you show your local music pride and get this record because a record will last much longer than that watered-down mixed drink you just ordered from the bar so you look cool but like others, will be puking a fruity smell by nights end.

Phratry Records

http://phratryrecords.com

Knife The Symphony (Bandcamp)

https://knifethesymphony.bandcamp.com/album/split-12-3

Smoke Signals...

http://smokesignalsellipsis.com 

Tooth Lures A Fang-Teefin

Cryptic haze-gaze Indi-pop like Guided By Voices

And Ass Ponys.

You just never know about that guy bagging your groceries...

Take a chance, he may be a fresh breath of air.

Volume Pulsing Treatise

"Sir... How are you doing? You need any help or assistance?"

I was 'pulsing' classical music when the young man at Home Depot asked me this.

Olive was in the back-seat with our family dog. Earlier, I told anyone who asked his name at PetSmart that his name was 'Tailgator.' The dogs name wasnt 'Tailgator' but that didnt stop me. It was a hot day sitting in a car, Even with the windows down... Tailgator was panting heavy so every few minutes I'd turn on the car, blast the AC and cool things down a bit... When I wasnt pulsing I ... Shit! Hold on... I have to explain what pulsing is dont I?

I first seen the act of pulsing with a friend who had a bit too much to drink one night and he began doing the act that I'm now calling 'Volume Pulsing' or just plain ol' Pulsing to you newer fans... The act of pulsing is when you are listening to the radio, but not just radio, and you manipulate the volume knob in quick volume shifts from high to low, or low to high and all points between... 

"Do you ask everyone you see at your job if they are OK or just the people that look like they are in distress?" I said and cut him of a bit just before he answered. "and furthermore, what about me tells you I need help? I just so happen to be doing OK... I think... I've been worse."

Actually I've been much worse but it takes too long to explain.

"I have Type-I Diabetes and tend to ask many people, all day long, how theyre doing just to be nice and compassionate."

"You hit the nail-on-the-head with that one!" I just so happen to be a Type-I diabetic too. It's one of my diagnosis. In moments, Julie was back from her shopping adventure. I quickly gave her an update on my new friend and our conversation... His story switched a bit but thats not really what I intended to relay with this writing piece. I just wanted to talk about Volume Pulsing but its just funny how stuff like this happens... One thing leads to another.