Saturday 10 February 2018

SeeYouSpaceCowboy - Fashion Statements Of The Socially Aware + Cassingle


Labels: Zegema Beach Records/React With Protest/Structures//Agony Records/Contrition Recordings/Middle-Man Records/Dog Knights Productions
Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital
Release Date: 03 Jun 2017

Tracklist:

1. An Introduction For People Who Hate Introductions
2. Jimmy Buffet Doesn't Even Surf
3. Soap Opera Stardom Is A Single Tear Drop Away
4. Pep Talk From A Nihilist
5. Fashion Statements Of The Socially Aware
6. Absolutely Absolute Absolution

If you miss the Myspace days and listen to Mathcore Index's Mathcast, you'll likely be aware of the current crop of insane, fast and gnarly screamo/violent hardcore bands that are coming through. SeeYouSpaceCowboy are one of those bands and they're on a very upward trajectory. They released their first demo in 2016 and followed it up with this 7" last year, which received two pressings via a collaboration of no less than six DIY labels. As a band they are standing up against social injustices within their scene, which is noticeable in both their song-titles/lyrics and in the way they conduct themselves. 

The first thing that immediately stands out for me with SeeYouSpaceCowboy is the eye-catching artwork on the sleeve of the 7”. The first pressing was bright yellow, while the second pressing is a bright intense pink. I’m okay with colourful presentation, as it makes a change from black and white. Songs-wise, SYSC don’t hang about. An Introduction For People Who Hate Introductions is a sixty-second blast of off-kilter, angular grind violence with solid screamo sensibilities. Plenty of math-like time signatures, trebly riffs, seriously uptempo percussion and a lung busting vocal delivery, which is the icing on this particular cake. Jimmy Buffet Doesn’t Even Surf is somehow heavier and more intense with the entire band working together to unsettle you. Trying to keep up with the music while typing this review is not easy. Soap Opera Stardom Is A Single Tear Drop Away highlights just how much they can fit into a song and shows that while the music may seem chaotic and un-structured, it’s actually quite the opposite. SYSC are incredibly tight musicians and they have to be with the amount of precision that’s present in these short grinding bursts. 

Pep Talk From A Nihilist has a garage-punk feel initially before turning into a breakdown-filled beast with low death metal grunts at times. The title-track is a trade-off between mathcore and introspective emo, but with gang vocals. When things do explode towards the end, you’re not sure which way is up and what you’re listening to. It’s a little ironic of me to say at this point that they’re impossible to truly pin down musically (when I’ve tried my best so far), but the truth is that they’re playing what they want to and are taking us along for the ride. Absolutely Absolute Absolution typifies that point as it closes out this mesmeric and jarring EP. SeeYouSpaceCowboy are nothing short of amazing at what they do. There’s a tidal wave flowing through the underground scene and this quintet are at it’s tip, waiting to wash away any opposition in their path.

Stream "FSOTSA" and purchase a download or one of the band's four remaining 7"s below:-




Labels: Self-Released/Zegema Beach Records
Formats: 7" Lathe/Tape/Digital
Release Date: 02 Nov 2017

Tracklist:

1. Atrocities From A Story Book Perspective

This special single-song release was recorded by the band, shortly after having their trailer and gear stolen while on tour last summer. The band has released it digitally and via a specially pressed 7" lathe cut, while Zegema Beach Records has released a limited run of tapes. Both of which have sold out from SYSC themselves. I felt it was more than worthwhile tagging a small write-up of the single  onto the end of this piece. 

In a time when CD singles seem to be dying a slow death, it’s cool to see bands and labels finding more artistic ways to release single songs. That’s what both SeeYouSpaceCowboy and Zegema Beach Records have done here. SYSC release “Atrocities From A Story Book Perspective” on a very limited run of 20 7” lathes with screen-printed b-sides, while Zegema Beach went with the cassingle option. This song is pissed straight from the off but retains a slight garage-punk vibe. Swirling with feedback and chugging riffs it’s a lot angrier and more hardcore orientated. As soon as it’s started, it finished. Such a cool idea and a release that will no doubt be lauded by fans and sold for extortionate amounts on Discogs in the future (completely against everything the release stands for). Support SYSC.

Stream the song and support SeeYouSpaceCowboy by purchasing a download here:-




Check the below links for availability of both releases (these are the labels that still have copies left):-


Dog Knights Productions - https://www.facebook.com/dogknights/

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