Banger From Preoccupations

The Canadians formerly known as Viet Cong, now known as Preoccupations are readying what is sure to be one of the top albums of 2018. I’m probably a little late on this since I was in a snow day stuper yesterday, but when songs are as good as “Espionage”, I’ll share them late or not. The track has a very 80s electronica, new wave feel to it with the usual intense vocal delivery from frontman Matt Flegel. This is shaping up nicely.

Preoccupations will drop New Material on March 23rd via Jagjaguwar.

A Festival, A Parade Share Dark Alt Rock Single

afapA Festival, A Parade are a four piece out of Newcastle Upon Tyne who have got a Frightened Rabbit meets Preoccupations vibe with their heavy dark rock. This new single below, “If Dogs Could Talk,” has all the elements you’d expect from an alt-rock song: cutting riffs of electric guitar that duel throughout, furious drums with lots of cymbal crashes, and the deep vocals of Joe Allen that keep the song in that grumbling, low tone. This band has only been at it for about a year, so you can expect a bright future from these gents.

Bonus points if you can guess which track by The National that it appears this band has generated their name from.

 

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Preoccupations Strike Again!

unnamed-58Are you properly exited for the upcoming, self titled LP from Preoccupations? No? Well, this new 11 minute track from the band is bound to make that happen. “Memory” is a sprawling, seemingly endless number that features the brilliance of Wolf Parade’s Dan Boeckner. This track feels like it’s a center cut of the upcoming album, as it spans in a few different directions. First it starts with that post-punk growl that we’ve come to know with Preoccupations, but this time around it feels a bit lighter and poppier. As the song progresses, those guitars wind their way through the song and the backing “oohs” sound like ghostly wails before the band transitions into the next sound scape. Take a listen and then go preorder the album, which is out September 16th, right here via Jagjaguwar Records.

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Preoccupations Air New Video For “Degraded”

Preoccupations (FKA Viet Cong) are going to be releasing a new album soon that matches their new name, and if it’s anything like last year’s debut release, then we’re going to be in for a treat. From the sound of the singles they’ve released thus far, I believe my excitement is well motivated. Today, they’ve put out a video for the second single off Preoccupations, which is called “Degraded,” and is a three minute collection of visually stimulating images. The track itself is great– it has the dark swirling post-rock energy that Preoccupations does so well, but takes a more streamlined approach than what we heard from this group in the past. Take a listen below and hear for yourself;Preoccupations will be out September 16th via Jagjaguwarpreorder it here.

P.S. Vinyl snobs should know that Secretly Group has started a Secret Society that sends you a new exclusive colored LP every month, and Preoccupations are part of the launch. Check that out here.