This album starts off with “Espionage”, and man oh man is it good. It’s dirty, hectic, and has that great anxious feel that a lot of the band’s early stuff excelled in. Yes, they have traded in wailing guitars for 80’s synths that belong more on the “It Follows” soundtrack than anything. But still, this is true to the legendary form of Post-Punk. Especially in Matt Flegel’s vocals, as half the time he sounds like he’s descending into his own mental prison. I love the intensity of this and just how murky it all is. My friends, “Espionage” is great, and tailor-made for late night drives. However, is it just me or there a little more real-world horror to this? That’s not a bad thing, but it’s certainly present. The very tense performances continue onto “Decompose”. I love the sort of spiritual sounding guitar fluttering throughout this one, it’s something Preoccupations have incorporated for years and it’s almost a signature sound of theres. I continue to love just how frantic this all is. Preoccupations may take their time recording, but when they release material, it’s always so urgent which only adds so much to their atmosphere. Now, let’s talk about these vocals. Matt’s vocals are still a perfect fit for the band. But they’ve come down a little bit from the harsh, ghoulish vocals of their early material. “Decompose” is still a solid tune and all, but I do miss the harshness. On the other hand, you can argue that these more Synth heavy tunes like “Disarray” are even further away from what made Preoccupations so great, to begin with. But I feel like so much of this track is still true to form. It remains very dangerous sounding and frantic, but it’s also atmospheric and almost breezy in a way. Which yes, for some fans is going to be hard to swallow. But I for one really love this track, it almost has a semi-hopeful feel to it. It’s warm and sort of inviting, and yes I’m away I’ve probably never used any of these words in describing Post Punk in my life. But for a more human sound to Post Punk with the same wild instrumentals and dense atmospheres, this is fantastic. On the other hand, “Manipulation” is probably the truest to the Preoccupations sound we get here. I love the drawn-out verses that are just so unbelievably dismal and chilling. Here, Matt sounds right back to his old self, with most of his vocals sounding right inside your head. This one isn’t warm or inviting, and most of all it’s not hopeful by any means. However, I do have to point out that Matt once again in his lyrics is bringing in so much more real-world problems and issues, something that’s still foreign to Post Punk. I dig it though.
“Antidote” on the other hand, brings things back to a seriously glitzy, 80’s feel once again. And once again, I actually sort of am into it. It’s tense and almost has a weird dance groove deep down. And you know what that means New Order fans, you can shut up now. Honestly, I feel like everyone I know has compared New Order to Preoccupations and I never got it, but sure now I see it I love the shouted, passionate vocals during the chorus, and just how hypnotic the verses come off. I do stand by my thoughts though that this is easily Preoccupations most human release yet. While there’s still a great deal of darkness to this, the lyrics of Matt don’t really come off nearly as foreign to feelings we’ve practically all had. This continues to be a fascinating new direction. “Solace” on the other hand takes us right back in a more upbeat direction. I have to say, as far as a sound that I really love to hear Preoccupations work with, it’s this. I love hearing them at their most frantic and tortured, and that’s certainly what we get here. Matt may still come off a little more easy to pinpoint, but his performances say otherwise. Preoccupations may be really getting further and further away from that once classic Post Punk sound. But if they’re going to make totally viable alternatives to it, I don’t really see the problem. However, if that’s the case, their music is going to just get more and riskier. Meaning, whenever we hear from Preoccupations next it may be the biggest flop in the history of the genre. This album continues with “Doubt”, and Preoccupations can still really bring in a truly great atmosphere, which is a damn miracle. I love just how dreary this one is and how post-apocalyptic this comes off. If the rest of this album has been a decline in society, this is absolutely the aftermath. Here, Matt’s vocals are just so fantastic. He gets inside your head in times like this, and really puts on one hell of a performance. This is the sound that I’m always going to love the most coming out of Preoccupations, even if I still do wish this was a little heavier. The greats of Post Punk would certainly be proud. Oh GOD, but then we have “Compliance” to round this album up, which sounds so intense right off the bat. I love just how noisy and seriously exciting this one is. I have no idea where this sound is, but next album, this sound, let’s do it, boys. This track is brutal, it’s practically Doom Metal with even more atmosphere. It’s tense, seriously paranoid and seriously well rounded. And that’s all without Matt because of this one all instrumental. The intensity of this one is just so unmatched. I love the drones, the patient drums, the noise, all of this. What a freakin’ tease this is though as an ending, I just want more!
Rating: 8.4/10
Give a Listen To: “Espionage”, “Disarray”, “Compliance”, “Doubt”
Genre: Post Punk / DarkWave / Art Rock
Overall Thoughts: Hey, what do you know. Preoccupations are still one of the most interesting and intense bands in Post Punk, truly shocking. All kidding aside, this is actually a really interesting album. This is far from just another Post Punk album, this is one that breaks all the rules. Preoccupations have traded in their legendary noisy guitars for shimmering 80’s synths. Not to mention, lyrically this is a much more human and less tortured album. Preoccupations work though, and create a series of their most accessible tunes, while still remaining dark and heavy. And yes, it’s a little short, and yes, it’s not nearly as heavy. But Preoccupations remain one of the more interesting and artistic of the Post Punk revival. Not to mention, that last tune here, “Compliance”, gives us an exciting look into the very noisy future of Preoccupations.
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