My favorite Austrians are back, and they do it with style.
Dee Cracks had left us in 2013 with a fantastic 7 ”
Call It A Day – that I literally consumed – and jump in 2014 with a new album
Beyond Medication that is sensationally beautiful.
Available for streaming last month, the album was officially released on 1st April; currently only available on CD and cassette, later this month will see the light even on vinyl, 500 copies, 100 of them in limited edition half black, half white.
Matt and
Mike (unfortunately
Manu few months ago has left the band ) found support by three labels: of course the
Monster Zero (LP/CD/MC) that follows and supports the boys since the beginning, the Japanese
Dumb Records (CD) and finally the Austrian
Turbo Tapes (MC). Record, mix and master were made, as always, by
Marco Perdacher at
DESSS Records.
I looked forward to this album and I was really curious to hear what the boys would have brought, I was expecting for a qualitative leap, and I have to say they got it.
The boys followed the path taken by
Attention! Deficit Disorder and intentions have been clear since the presentation of the 7” ,
Adderall (a medicine to “cure” the deficit disorder). The formula has remained the same: the deep voice of
Matt that reminds thousand cigarettes and gallons of whiskey, the poppy choruses of
Mike and
Manu, melodies worthy of the best power-pop, keyboards at the right time, heavy and powerful guitar riffs like a punch in the middle of the teeth. But what is the qualitative leap?
Well, in my humble opinion, the album sounds more mature than the previous, the songs are more compact and fucking cool, from first to last.
After the first listen, I already recalled several choruses (I’m an amnesiac..) .. and if listening every day an album with 15 songs (the digital version includes also a cover of Juliet) doesn’t tire me, is a sign that this record will stay for a long time on my turntable.
Todo El Mundo Está Enamorado is a surfy intro according to
The Queers tradition,
Dead End Mission (Could you imagine it during a live show? Mandatory finger pointing),
Charité Forever,
Adderall,
Don’t Rely On Me (my favorite ever!)
Nothing Matters,
No Way Back (super super!),
Please Hold On,
Stroll the Streets are my favorite pieces.
Yes, I know.. practically every song. Summer’s Gone should be between the best songs, but summer is still to come, and right now I don’t want to think about the nostalgia of drinking beers on the seashore.
In short , it is too early to say if it’s the best album of 2014 , but Beyond Medication has really impressed me and I haven’t doubt that it will end on my personal podium.
