HARDLY ART 2014
BY OSCAR NICHOLAS
In this revival, there will be kings and there will be peasants, Protomartyr will be among the rulers. Their latest album Under Colour Of Official Right is the indie guitar punk sound our time is craving. Lo-Fi is once again becoming high time music, much like Eagulls, Together Pangea and Skaters there is a booming appreciation for DIY. Protomartyr sound like they are making music how they want and making it passionately. The Detroit band have substance and real meaning without wasting any time.
Opening track Maidenhead starts the LP of casually, effortlessly gorgeous. Solid drums and twanged guitar layer simplistically until heavier strums crack and a glimpse of power shines through. The track sounds classy even if 'Shit Goes Up, Shit Goes Down' is sung repetitively.
Protomartyr's post-punk style is a crafted art, they have genuine presence and nothing sounds forced. Their latest LP is a clear progression from their debut album No Passion All Technique, it is cleaner and more mature, yet with all the same passion just implemented differently. Under Color Of Official Right has a back and forth flow that creates tension and emotion beautifully as their tracks peak.
Joe Casey’s deep and distinct vocals bellow through the LP with a post-punk and a almost Iggy feel. Under Color Of Official Right’s third track Want Remover demonstrates the bands catchy, no bullshit sound with infectious chorus transitions. Guitars and drums build and build until all is full flow and Casey howls ‘and I'm free free free from the dark’…… The tracks only downfall is that it is cut too short and your left thirsty.
The LP moves on with head nodders like Trust Me Billy and Pagans until Tarpeian Rock shows the sociological, conceptual side to the band with a Sonic Youth style spoken word lyrical foreground. Protomartyr, like many other lo-fi acts, seem to take inspiration from their environment and contempt for many of its inhabitants. ‘Greedy Bastards, rank amateur professionals, emotional cripples, gluten fascist’ start the list spoken over a simple beat and panned, distorted vocal samples. Not really the radio friendly fortune making track.
The majority of tracks on the record don't reach above two or three minutes. However the albums golden gem Come And See runs just under the four minute mark. By far one of the best records of the year so far, it has that hair raising passion reinforced by the bands heavy hitting sound that makes the repeat button addictive.
Protomartyrs future is sure to hold more than just the miserable city inspired post-punk, yet for now it sounds fucking good.
