Announcing Anatomy Class, Plastic, Violet Age

Class ? No Class ? School’s out for Summer 2022. Anatomy Class is in though. At least in Meat Sheet Fanzine hemisphere it is summer. Elsewhere it may not be summer, give me a pass though. Here are some songs that will hopefully whisk us away to a better place. Night Sins. Darker, harder synth driven waveforms from percussionist Kyle of Nothing. Oog Bogo is a new found favorite. Sometimes bands have an indescribable trait you love at first listen. Down below I try to describe. Last is Andy Bell. New single and b side cover. Many already know Andy plays in the UK band RIDE. So these are summer balms for what ails you. Whatever is troubling music can heal, even if only temporary.

Anatomy Class- Expo 88

This is the latest song from Anatomy Class. First let’s backup. This band delivers an absolute knockout song ” Reflector Shield ” last year aka 2021. Knockout in hooks and melodies. So much I am envious and yet still hopeful I can come up with one in its league. Read upon it here https://meatsheetfanzine.com/21s-ultimate-fruitcake-recipes-and-music/ (although you may have to scroll, the track is embedded and very worth a scroll IMO).

Having pre framed the latest, here are some quick thoughts on Expo 88. Constructed on solid chords and songwriting in general. Expo 88 is very much pop driven in delivery. It rocks harder, but not in an extreme hard rock way. Just some more punch and distortion, you still have plenty of the Anatomy Class sound you may know. Contrary to the previous mention of Reflector Shield, Expo 88 is not as dominant with hooks.

That is to say, the hooks in Expo 88 are smaller, bite size, but still savory. Both tracks are satisfying. Expo 88 hones in overall structure and foundation of writing.

It is a matter of what does a listener appreciate? Earworm like verse choruses or more melodic driving rock and dynamic vocals. Maybe a little of both? Expo 88 is leaning more towards driving rock on this one.

Expo 88 capitalizes on building tension and release. At about 2:14 in (out of 4 minutes total or so) you hear the drums and guitars build up a sonic story until it releases into arpeggiated instrumental bridge. Then it begins to raise the energy and pitch. The vocals become earnest and a touch pained before the music and vocals taper off. Again I am wishing to hear more as I think Anatomy Class have a knack for tuneful songwriting. Even though I favor Reflector Shield more, this is notable and a very strong stand alone track. Expo 88 will be a welcome addition to an EP /LP of Anatomy Class’s material. Class is always on here https://anatomyclass.bandcamp.com/

Night Sins – Violet Age – Born Losers Records

Here’s one that got past the goalie so to speak. Me being a goalie that is. Being a pretty solid fan of Nothing I am ashamed that I missed this, even though the release date is June 10 . Night Sins is Kyle Kimball’s band when he is not drumming for Nothing. So if you listen to synth driven electronic music.. particularly with an edge.. Night Sins is an obvious choice to seek out.

Violet Age features machine like electronics but for all the cold there is warmth in the vocals and opposing synth saw waves that run through the LP.

It obviously draws influence from the 80’s synth bands like Joy Division, New Order, Depeche Mode, OMD as far as the feel. Also the mood is ever so slightly more foreboding and ominous than the 80’s synth acts I mentioned above. However at times, industrial creeps in. In fact the percussive and urgent beats begin to dominate on tracks such as . One song that combines all of this is Moonlit Tsar. Additionally there is a clap track that is total 80’s. If you can recall Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell single Eyes Without A Face and about 900 songs that had similar percussive production.

Next while I’m thinking of it, Kyle’s vocals are solid. Think of Pete Steele’s depth of register in Type O Negative but with a little David Gahan. It’s not quite a growl but it comes from a deep place in the larynx area. One can’t phone that in. Allow me to highlight a few of the songs. Self titled track Violet Age is sublime and one of the singles. Cascading digital arpeggios paired with twangy guitar arpeggios. The vocals in the verses sound as if one is slightly pained. The chorus offers some lift and hope though.

Push pull dynamic set in a darkwave backdrop. A definite highlight.

Turn To Gold, think New Order gone dark and ominous. Yaz like arpeggios. Breathy vocals. Corium offers the thump and throb of a synthesized bass. The bass line combined with Kyle’s vocals is the skeleton of Corium. The synth and clap tracks are great, but it seems Night Sins already had something strong in the bass. That is not to say it is too busy, I just admire the thump it creates.

Sea Sick for some reason seems a bit more danceable. The snare and drum sounds offer a sense of tribal stomp. Outro causes me to listen closer. An engaging cacophony. Whirring, grinding, perhaps snake like synth sounds. Artistically, pretty badass. It stands out. I’d love to hear a longer dance remix of this.

Last track closing Violet Age is Sleepwalker Features tickle of piano arpeggios. This offers a break from electronic sound if only for a short time. Additionally it could be a keyboard with a really clean piano sound. However if it is , it’s not really relevant to me.

What I do find meaningful is the contrast in timbre. Also noteworthy, Sleepwalker is 5 and a half minutes. The piano drops in and out and succumbs to a bass pulse. Note the counter play between bass and higher piano notes. This builds into a part that gains intensity and then drops back into bass pulse. Again push pull. Point and counter point. These elements make Sleepwalker a standout and dramatic close to Violet Age. If you’re into synth, electronica, darker new wave, and the like, you would be missing out if you did not check this and Night Sins material out. Sense it here https://bornlosersrecords.bandcamp.com/album/violet-age

Oog Bogo – Plastic – Drag City Records

What is Oog Bogo? Perhaps an Oog that is Buy One Get One Free? Nevertheless, I’m immediately attracted to the song Plastic. An amalgam of past sounds woven together into a singular modern context. I can hear some Scary Monsters David Bowie, disco, disjointed vocals. Slightly high on some kind of depressant like substance sounding but the voice hits just right. So, Plastic is also the name of the LP. It opens with Goon.

Goon’s guitar sound is crisp but edgy. Just enough urgency and dirt but enough high end aka crisp. Like crinkle cut fries. Also kind of like the Buzzcocks Love Bites or maybe a little like The Jam’s In the City records. Goon intensifies nearing its end. Searing guitar tone and more Joey Ramone flavored vocals. Don’t be a Goon. The singer is not one.

Culprit, if it is the same mix on the LP that I find here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUoFXOzUPmw is a darker trip with sweeping pick scraping sounds. Dual unhinged vocals, lower and higher register. Almost sung in a monotone. Slightly pitch shifted perhaps? A touch evil , like a true Culprit should be. It seems fresh to me, again enter Bowie influence. That being said, please send support so I can put it into bands like this. If you click around blog there are free ways to help or buy stuff. Shares are great, sales even better. The artists and myself really do appreciate it.

Onward. Cuckoo features stop and go rhythms and I think of Devo as far as rhythm goes.

Will one find that warm synth tonality of Devo? Not necessarily, just think of the beats and what is not played versus what is played. It’s that 80’s sensibility or boogie if you will.

It’s a quick 1:38 fun punked out song. Which brings us to A Side. Oog leaves the punk edge momentarliy to explore some different arpeggiated picking, chords, vocal melodies, and a moody, dreamier feel. I don’t fuck with drugs, but this one feels like a good time on downers ( Give me a break, I ‘ve had prescription for them once). One to relax a bit after jumping around to their other songs.

New State is a more percussive number stealing from new wave and more of the early aforementioned punk.

Perfect for a party, you can dance to this. Staccato, Elvis Costello /Joey Ramone – ish vocals accentuate this skull bongo of a romp.

Guitars and synth pepper this one, in time with the vocals. It’s fun and fresh to me. However if you study music that exists you may think Oog Bogo are just ripping off (*insert band names here). If so, well then I expose my ignorance. Forgive me on that. Many artists wear the influences on their sleeve. Oog Bogo put it down and allow you to pick it up. On the other hand, if one has little or no reference to lots of 70’s through 80’s new wave punk and dance able music.. this should sound even fresher. In any case, I love what they are doing regardless of point of reference or some big music critic’s opinion.

On a personal note I’d be thrilled to co write stuff like this. Due to lack of people who can show up and play in my area , which is another discussion, I don’t bother. Also it’s not easy to come up with catchy bouncy stuff that is fresh using minimal chords.

Back on track to some other key points of the Plastic LP. Canary uses flange combined with Oog Bogo sound you will soon come to know if you do not already. This effect is easy to overuse. In this case if gives a slight sweeping , off putting , sway to the driving guitars, It’s just right. Bogo knows how to flange.

The satisfying clack of the percussion and bass thump on So Well is a winner. In fact that takes you into Idle , the last track. But before we get to that, you get isolated gratifying rhythm sandwiched in a track – aka So Well. Modulated, ringing guitars. Dance fueled bass and beats. At about a minute and half, more Eno/ Bowie Scary Monster/ Low like synth. Very effective way to grab your ears attention. Searingly sharp saws. Jagged sounding waves set against the chorus of So Well. If there weren’t so many tracks I dig, So Well might be one of two or so that I’d pick if I had to pick one or two. As mentioned a moment ago that gogo clack at the end just really seals this package of song up very neat and tidy.

Last is Idle. Heavily reverb / delay hits right out the gate. Then you get a launch into pogo like pit of sound. Powerful six string riffing.

Idle is anything but that. This fucking track would be super fun to dee and hear live. I bet Oog Bogo have fun and deliver the goods on this one live.

The studio and engineer seem to capture their energy perfectly on this one. The production can make or break a track like this. It’s just under three minutes of ass kicking fun with some bonus studio trickery at the end. You have to tune in, no spoilers here. Considering the elasticity of plastic.. this is a rock solid effort in my opinion. Slam your favorite drinks, get ready to jump around like a sugared up child ( I mean that in the funnest way in case you wonder) and Oog Bogo it on out here https://oogbogo.bandcamp.com/album/plastic

Andy Bell – Lifeline

OK I’m covering this simply because I love Andy Bell’s work. Two Songs. Lifeline appears on the latest full length Flicker. https://meatsheetfanzine.com/exploding-stones-flicker-like-stars/ Yours truly covers the entire album give or take a tune or so. That leaves us with a cover song that is originally done by Pentangle, Light Flight. I had to google and read up a little , not going to lie.

I’m sorry I missed out on Pentangle. Thankfully Mr. Bell exposes me and a few others to them. Upon listening to the original https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9gCN9-Jnfg . I can say Andy Bell captures this song fairly well. The level of musicianship Pentangle commands is accomplished if not extremely accomplished. Even though they are young in the footage, their skill is well above kids jamming in mom and dad’s garage. So let’s face it, Andy Bell is no slacker. He can play and write. I do appreciate his take on this song. Both are magic in their own right. The original is hard to duplicate verbatim. Bell does hit the mark in my humble opinion. He is capturing players that seem to have classical training. Don’t let the bohemian looks fool you. Pentangle can throw down.

Back to Bell. His vocals fit snugly. In other words the singing naturally fits the original very well. Smoky guitar work with a little overdriven fuzz hint between singing.

Unsure if this is pressed on record, but if you are a vinyl collector, a fan of Andy Bell, and this happens to be coming your way.. this is great fun. Or you can settle for digital download here. https://andybell.bandcamp.com/album/lifeline As always a fan of RIDE and Andy’s work I bid thee farewell for now.

There it is. Summer well under way. I am anxious for autumn but will stay grounded in the current triple digit weather. I have to say I am impressed by this batch of artists and work. It is hard to keep up with the wide scope of music. So if you want to contribute, I may hear your pleas. Reach out here, https://meatsheetfanzine.com/contact/ or share this with a friend who may be looking to get music out there. It pains me to say, but please keep correspondence somewhat relevant to music or content I cover. Your support is humbly and graciously accepted. With gratitude. Meatus out.