Pink Punk was built from the ashes of mid-90s nu-metal band One Minute Silence and having heard that work we were expecting more of the same plain stuff. While lyrically it’s still got massive political and social overtones and there’s a definite electro-rock sheen, musically this switches gears and it relies much more on vocalist Yap’s spoken-word material for inspiration.
This is thoughtful trip-hop that blends elements of Industrial, classical and verse for an enchanting and diverse record. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s very experimental but ‘Zombie God Delicious’ is an intriguing and innovative album. Opener ‘Universe On Tap’ is a chilled-yet-evocative spoken word ditty with some nifty electronic flashes while ‘Pink Punk Presents’ is a synth-charged beast without remorse and packed full of anger. Meanwhile ‘Catalogue Democracy’ is a hard-hitting dark-electro powerhouse mixing cutting electronics and a venomous rap-bite for one of the album’s most stimulating tunes.
Follow-up ditty ’Old Enough To Die Old Enough To Listen’ is a nice slice of cyberpunk harking back to the best moments of OMS only with an added raw, poetic undergroove. ‘Advertising’s is a track with its tongue firmly-in-cheek featuring the words of Bill Hicks. It’s very interesting and uses trip-hop beats and some fast-paced, intelligent lyrics. It’s on this track that the band sound at their most original and relevant cleverly utilising roaring guitars, samples and Industrial beats to get a prominent message across. ‘Down A Hole With Alice’ slows the pace down somewhat for a soulful Tricky-esque tune that allows for the listener to focus on the lyrics and the evocative ambient soundscapes embedded within.
‘Lollipops’ incorporates some fiery drum and bass sounds that intermingle within strong words for a song that most can relate to. This is possibly the most personal tune Yap has ever recorded and it leads nicely into ‘Press The Panic Button’ which sees the lead-vocalist wrap himself around familiar ideas including religion and politics while the music smacks you in the face right from the off. Next, we have ‘Rockstars’ which features Excentral Tempest and is sure to be a strong live favourite. We’re surprised this wasn’t picked as the first single, it’s arguably the most accessible track on the album and definitely the catchiest offering. That being said, first single choice ‘Calling Time’ is the softest effort on this, and it’s truly heart-wrenching. For the first time Yap sings, and in our opinion this is where his real strength lies. ‘Calling Time’ will be stuck in your head for days. On ‘Freedom’ bass-heavy beats blend well with acoustic guitars for a nice break that showcases the varied register of vocalist Donna. It’s a similar story with final tune ‘Outer Space’, as hypnotic female vocals are encased within a tight electronic bubble before a massive spoken word rap that will (probably) blow you away to close.
Though it’s a tad repetitive at times this is one of the most original records we will hear this year and it’s most definitely worth you clicking the links and checking them out.
****/5
For fans of: One Minute Silence, Tricky, Saul Williams
For more information visit the band’s Myspace and website.
