Protocültura Mutantes Maníacos EP
Minimalist synth punk/pop duo singing about mutants, robots and war. The sound is very early ’80s (a midpoint between KRAFTWERK and MISSING PERSONS, perhaps?), and the vibe is very sci-fi B-movie, which is very much a “you got peanut butter in my chocolate” situation. It works quite well. I enjoyed all the songs, but the last tune on the record, “Bomba Nuclear,” is probably the catchiest and danciest on the record (and thus my favorite). This makes sense considering the song being about nuclear holocaust and all. While the more sparse tunes had a great robotic, punky vibe, the more layered melodic elements on the EP closer show a direction I’m hoping the band will explore more in future releases. The 7″ is under nine minutes, just the right length to not overstay its welcome, which is something that is easy for bands with these kinds of gimmicks to do. Overall a pleasant, concise listen.