Split release pairing Sydney’s 1-800 MIKEY and GEE TEE. 1-800 MIKEY is a project from Michael Barker, who also plays in GEE TEE. His tracks are lo-fi, innocent, and achingly whimsical, similar to fellow Sydneysiders TEE VEE REPAIRMANN and Portland’s CHEERY CHEEKS. GEE TEE has been referred to as the Australian SPITS, but on their track, they slow it down with a tune that sounds beautifully crafted like NOBUNNY covering DANIEL JOHNSTON in a bedroom on a four-track.
Spain has an undeniably characteristic scene of synth punk and adjacent genres, but SISTEMA DE ENTRETENIMIENTO has always been one of the most instantly recognizable of them all. With their aptly-titled new EP Arcade Punk, they keep the flame going. The classic SISTEMA sound is still there: bright drum machine beats, sharp guitar melodies, signature synth parts, and vocals swimming in reverb…but leaning a bit more towards the gloominess of darkwave, it sounds darker and catchier than ever. Fans of the band will be more than satisfied.
Fresh slice of warbly garage punk from PRISON AFFAIR’s new label. The OIDZ, like PRISON AFFAIR, C.C.T.V., and BIG CLOWN, create catchy bozo punk that is as smart as it is dumb, chirpy as it is legitimately rocking. “Incel” is a satiric rant from a guy who has no friends and plays XBOX all day, but is confident enough to say, “I’m better than you / I’m better than you / I’m better than you!” Sounds like many a social media comment section. If you gather under the egg-punk umbrella, “Jackin Off in the UFO” is this season’s anthem. It’s almost like the song rips so hard to justify how stupid it is, and I love it. If I listen to it again, I know that it will take over all conscious thought for the next week. A crusty, B-movie, sci-fi rock’n’roll gem of a record from start to finish.
