Review - 'Nesting' by Punching Swans
It's easy to link this Punching Swans release to Exoskeletons “Get lost” EP. Initially because Greg Webster's guitar and vocal stylings are all over both, but also because the production of both are really brilliantly balanced, immediate and in your face. Nesting is jammed with kinetic whoops, squawks, squeals underpinned by driving, compelling and hypnotic drum and bass parts. Vocally it paints images of a David Byrne-like character recounting a cool-aid acid test journey through a dark psychotic woodlandscape.
Pretty much every song begins with pounding and compelling killer drum riffs, Cuckoo Cuckold K killed sets the precedent. A military march gone AWOL with joyous abandon. The vocal hits you like Mark E Smith telling you “your my wife now Dave”. Vocally the voice on Man Nest is a gameshow-host speed panic-attack Frank Black. Unsettling and intriguing. Pigeon Street could be a “single”, staccato spat lyrics and heavy riffs in the midst of Lynchian weirdness. More break-down lovely angsty tension. Marching drums, twisted nursery rhyme lead lines, spooky outro.
I wish I knew what the words are on Ovulations, so nearly tangible, so possibly poignant “I wonder if the winners are here tonight?” As catchy as a cold. Cedric Bixler (At The Drive In) vocal leading us through torn musical backstreets with reckless abandon. Then Headless-chicken: Black Flag guitar assault, trippy tribal gaggling vocal squawks. Intense and beautifully executed drums. The frenetic energy on this album just keeps on building!
Pecked to death is the first single from Nesting. Beats an intro into awesome bass hook. Heavy doom laden discord guitar. Incoherent traumatised ranting squawks. Ritual spooky drop down. Teenager re-writes younger sisters fairy tale, with graphic illustrations, gruesome twists and obscenities, ink spillage and scribbles. But the first single? It's lovely and creepy and nerve jangling and whatever PS decide to release and whatever order, is ok with me....but.
To me Flight is the first single. The production on the chorus just (seems to) need a tiny bit more...depth, size...something minor. This could be/probably is the perfect post-punk pop single. I woke up on Wednesday from a nightmare and this song was ear worming me for the rest of the day. “Can you see me? Over the handle bars and into the stars” this thing flies. Pixies and Wire spring to mind. Addictive riffage and changes, funky fills. Joyous, passionate, desperate and liberating. The ending blows me away like a blunderbusted duck that's dead before it hits the ground. You can feel the air drop away. Nesting. Extremely fine and agile explosion of glorious energy.
Buy the album at skingasm.com or skingasmrecords.bandcamp.com
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