Untz Untz Untz
Dry those eyes and keep on dancing. The dance-punk collective !!!, otherwise known as Chk Chk Chk, trudge on with the tunes despite the heartbreaking loss of Jerry Fuchs. Strange Weather, Isn’t It? proves early 2000’s electroclash hasn’t been weeded out amongst the laptop jockeys filling the dance halls.
The album kicks off with “AM/FM,” a lighthearted blend of East Coast breaks, radio-themed lyrics, and choppy synths – a less in-your-face groove than what fans might be used to.
Despite this, the meat of every !!! release lies in the four-on-the-floor disco tracks like “The Most Certain Sure,” “Jamie, My Intentions Are Bass,” and “Even Judas Gave Jesus A Kiss.” It’s songs like these that keep the post-punk aesthetic relevant with New York-influenced chaos mixed with dancefloor accessibility.
“Steady as the Sidewalk Cracks” sounds like it was extracted straight from the minds of David Byrne and Brian Eno with big Latin percussion, a horn solo, and dual vocals reminiscent of Tina Weymouth and Byrne’s playful presence on Talking Heads’ Remain in Light.
It seems the album’s spaces are filled in with more detail to textural experiments and worldbeat traditions over the usual “chika chika” of the guitars and the raw animalistic sexuality of 2007’s Myth Takes. Tracks like “Wannagain Wannagain” and “Hollow” present a more head-y experience fit to drown out the evening rather than get you tappin’.
Strange Weather, Isn’t It? touches all the corners of a satisfying post-punk release: something to dance to, something to paint to, something to blank to and something universal.
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