[rating=4.00]
The electropunk gets shifted to overload with Parts & Labor’s newest release Constant Future. Out of the gate the first two tracks amp the art-rock keyboard blasts beyond the sonic limits, frying speakers with electricity overloads. “Fake Names” and “Outnumbered” are chaotic pieces that seem like a Technicolor installation, opening the ears for the catchier fare to follow.
The title track along with a “A Thousand Roads” both get the head bobbing with their driving rhythms, twinkling flourishes and a big choruses while “Echo Chamber” meshes light and airy keys with stop start feedback. “Hurricane” is a grand adventure in anthemic punk with pogo-ing crackles and twisted knobs. While the lyrics deal with a fading storm (aging?), the song conjures images of swirling wires, fractured drumsticks and punctured speakers scattered around a studio before being tossed out a window and blown directly into eardrums. “Neverchanger” closes this sizzling album with a soaring drum build that explodes gloriously. The only downside to Parts & Labor’s latest is the placement of the vocals which are behind most of the music, the lyrics are engaging but at times can be tough to make out under cymbal crashes or keyboard bleeps.
One of the biggest pluses for Constant Future is the major reliance on keys-synths-effects without making it a new wave rehash. While the heavy drums and feedback blasts help steer clear of that, the song writing also deserves major credit for keeping things fresh. Constant Future is a dynamic listen that is sure to expand Parts & Labors fan base with its layers of packed in sound and exhalative playing.
