Screensaver – Decent Shapes LP

Description

Melbourne/Naarm synth-punk five-pieceScreensaverreturn withDecent Shapes, their second album.Decent Shapesis loaded with bubbling tension, a low grade but growing fever, a rising rage. The frustration is so tangible you can taste it. Detachment and dissociation become survivalist coping mechanisms. Thematically, screensaver’s latest offering finds them exploring existence on an ever-growing trash heap where we’re desperate for the new, the nice and the shiny. A world where materialism reigns supreme and corporate niceties litter the public dialogue but behind closed doors the sentiment is warlike, total domination is the only answer to the bottom line. All of which is underpinned by the band’s sonic sense of urgency and a commitment to creating a sound that taps into the mood and spirit of post-punk whilst also allowing space for new wave elements and electronic experiments to shine through.Decent Shapeswas recorded and mixed byJulian Cue, who was also the recording engineer forExpressions of Interest. Defined by a kinetic energy, dynamic range and brooding atmosphere, the ten-track release comprises some tracks that were mainstays within the band’s live shows — featuring in their US tour set-list — alongside others which were written later in the recording process. During the creation ofDecent Shapes, the band also experimented with swapping instruments, allowing for different playing styles and song-writing approaches. Screensaver was formed in 2016 as a trans-Pacific project betweenKrystal Maynard(Bad Vision/exPolo) andChristopher Stephenson(Spray Paint/Exek). Their debut albumExpressions of Interestreceived support from the likes ofBrooklyn Vegan,Beats Per Minute,DIYandPost-Trash.