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What’s up Sorry Staters?
By the time this newsletter comes out, the Shaved Ape/Meat House/Starving Bomb benefit gig for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund will be behind us already. Weird to write this preemptively. I really hope that show goes well. I’m fuggin stoked for it and hope the punks and freaks come rage and support the cause. Also, the day this newsletter comes out will be the same night as the mighty Deletär’s infiltration of Raleigh! So pumped for that gig.
Man, my staff pick this week caught me off guard. Sometimes, we stock records here at the store of which I have no prior knowledge or point of reference. Then, upon first listen, the record knocks my socks off. Okay, here’s the kicker though: especially a few years back, the genre descriptor of “gothy post-punk” really was the kiss of death, wasn’t it? I remember a period where contemporary DIY punk was way too oversaturated with bands that tried to do their best Joy Division impression. We’d stock record after record like that at Sorry State, and after a while I just remember finding all those bands exhausting. If your objective is to sound like 80s goth band “X”, I think the difficulty is whether you can actually write a good song or not. You can decorate the gothic castle of your dreams with all the correct sonic gargoyle statues and spooky drapery you want. Dark, moody vibe? Check. Chorus and delay on the guitars? Check. Wailing, low-pitch, budget Ian Curtis vocals? Check. Anybody else yawning yet?
This new LP by Montaña is antithetical to all of these negative trappings of post-punk I’m describing above. I played this record, and within 10 seconds I was already hooked. Hailing from Seville in Spain, Montaña has many sonic identifiers that tempt me to draw comparisons to other bands. But whatever, this record is just really GOOD. I think the strength of the band is that they know how to write hooky, catchy, and intelligently constructed songs. For my money, this band’s take on mining familiar sounds of post-punk/new wave/whatever stands head and shoulders above hack imitators. For one, I love that even with an incorporeal feeling of melancholy moodiness detectable, Montaña exchange the typical drudging broodiness for uplifting, frenetic energy in their songwriting. The opening track “6:45” is a perfect example, where the frenzied, relentlessly moving bassline meets a vibrant, hooky guitar melody. Funny enough, the herky jerky, unyielding bass and rhythm section kinda remind of Gang Of Four, and they have that song “5:45”… Coincidence? But they knock the musicianship out of the park. Brilliant counterpoint occurs between the propulsive basslines and the often syncopated, ethereal guitars. The second track “Negro Calor” opens with a bass part that immediately has a catchy guitar line that comes in with an unexpected, angular rhythm that rubs against the pulse of the bass. Moments of complex rhythmic intensity seamlessly transition into euphoric, spaced-out dreamy releases of tension.
Gah-DEYUM I love what the guitar player is doing on this record. It’s like total ear candy. While it is drenched with effects, I don’t gather that the guitar player is just trying to squeeze a bunch of pedals on his pedalboard unnecessarily like an obnoxious, nerdy guitar store employee. The variety of textures feels deliberate and heightens certain passages in the songs. The role of the guitar functions less like a vehicle to lead the listener’s ear for chord changes, and more like another layer of melodic complexity against the vocals. It’s like an additional dressing… that special sauce, baby. It’s funny, the guitar player every now and then will hit these chord accents with a particular delay cadence that sounds so much like “I Ran” by Flock of Seagulls. I don’t mean that as a diss at all. I really like Flock of Seagulls haha.
Speaking of the guitarwork against the vocals, the woman singing is the pot of gold under the rainbow obscured by the clouds. Another remarkable element within an already excellent backing band. All the lyrics are sung in Spanish of course, which for whatever reason is a bonus for me. Whether it’s Paralis Permanente or whoever, I think Spanish singing, even just sonically, sounds at home and rad over this style of music. Her voice and approach to the singing just oozes charisma and personality. She’ll do these explosive high-pitched squawks that (I hate to even go there) remind of Siouxsie on tracks like “Head Cut.” I guess a more contemporary comparison I could make is Violeta from Rata Negra—more just as a reference point for lively, talented singers in a similar vein. And that’s not to take anything away from the singer of Montaña—she’s got her own thing going on of course.
I think 8 songs is the perfect length for a record like this. All the songs are around 3 minutes in length and jam-packed with hooks and interesting, clever song structures. The record doesn’t overstay its welcome, and it also leaves the listener wanting more. The recording is also incredible. Crisp, clear, punchy and all the players in the band shine. It sounds professional, which is a funny word to use I suppose. Not slick exactly, but just expertly executed. The record comes housed in this unassuming brown cardboard jacket. The feel of the record is very DIY, with silkscreened minimal, graphic-designy looking artwork. I think this record is also a pressing of only 300 copies or something like that. I think the record is so damn good that it feels like it should be on a bigger indie label for some reason. But the fact that it’s not on a bigger label, and maintains a real deal DIY punk sensibility only adds to the record’s allure in my book. Maybe I wouldn’t have even listened to Montaña if they were on Sacred Bones or whatever haha.
It’s funny, the band is called Montaña, which I assume means “mountain” in Spanish. But here in North Cakalaky, I keep forgetting about the tilde on the “ñ” and keep jokingly calling the band Montana. The best post-punk to ever emerge from the hills of Missoula. This record is great. If any of the references or comparisons I made tickle your fancy, then I highly recommend checking it out.
That’s all I’ve got. As always, thanks for reading.
‘Til next week,
-Jeff