Positronix

Reviews

Positronix Miss Universe 12″

The 12” EP continues its victory lap as the coolest format going now in punk. This is a tight handful of throbby, synthed punk with vocals that absolutely send it to the balcony of the theater. It’s hip, it’s referential, it bounces—there’s really not a hair out of place here. “Ascension Day” really stands out, with a chilly moodiness and great harmonies, but every track here is a winner. The guitar shines here too, with leads that veer away from the usual minimal, motorized appeal of synth punk and bring plenty of arpeggiated melody to add another layer to the overall sound. Stack all that up against the rousing lyrics hollered against a looming dystopia, and you’ve got a foolproof formula. Rage against the dying light and all that.

Positronix Bad House cassette

POSITRONIX are from Philly and seem to be part of a network-of-friends/member-sharing kinda scene with ZORN and ALIEN BIRTH, although I live thousands of miles away and if I put in the internet detective work necessary to certify who’s been in what, it would basically feel like stalking after a while. Bad House, their second tape, doesn’t sound much like either of those bands, regardless. Its six songs are full of power chords (albeit with moments of weird atonal soloing, as in “Positivist,” that totally works nevertheless) afforded thicc production and containing DNA from dark post-punk, loud axe-hero indie à la DINOSAUR JR or SUGAR, maybe 2k10s riot grrrl inheritors like SKATING POLLY? It’s somehow both punkier and more rock-fan accessible than I’m making it sound, and I can envisage it landing well with a lot of different musical subcultures.