Art-Punk meets electronic

Hailing from Brooklyn, this art-punk band is sure to make an impact on the music scene. P.E. draws inspiration from the likes of Lizzy Mercier Descloux, and Portishead in their funky, electronic appeal. The band’s name came from the merging of bands Pill + Eaters to create P.E. Overall, their new album The Leather Lemon is electronically progressive work, with each song producing a new sound. To the listener, it is almost like taking a portal back to the ’90s, Dido and Massive Attack.  

In “Contradiction of Wants,” there is an underlying bass-heavy sound, almost similar to Primus’ Les Claypool. This is overlaid with the vocalist channeling an almost Bjork sound while the piano flows in and out, feeling sophisticated and jazzy all at once. Within the second song alone, a recurring theme is seen as a blending of genres that follows into the rest of the album. 

The “Lying with the Wolf” intro is reminiscent of Dido and utilizes an echo effect on the lead singer’s voice. Once again, a jazzy theme is incorporated with the use of trumpet. Lyrically, the song looks at time with “I’m obsessed with time, what I’ve lost, I’ve wasted, what I’ve given away.”

“The Leather Lemon” is short and subdued, an ironic twist for the title track. It feels very art house in its delivery and the singer enters a sort of repetitive trance or prayer.

The instrumentals in “Tears in The Rain” once again are reminiscent of Dido, as well as Portishead’s “Glory Box.”. The instrumentals mimic the rain, not just with audio of actual falling rain, but by other means as well. The effect of the jazz instrumental with the rain in the background is very soothing. This song is also a collaboration alongside A. Savage.

“The Reason For My Love” is more chaotic in its delivery and is once again very emblematic of the ‘90s. Specifically, the soundtrack for the movie “Hackers.” The beautiful line “our love is a wild poetry” is repeated throughout the song, showcasing a mastery of lyrics. 

Listeners of various genres, but more specifically jazz, funk and electronic will be able to identify emblematic elements within this high-energy album. The delivery of the album is varied as each song brings something new to the table. Surely, an interesting listen for those who like to be more open-minded.