The
darkwave/post-punk band Push Button Press from Tampa, Florida, have just
released their third album "Black Swan" on Cold Transmission.
On previous releases, the band provided a catchy, moody blend of '80s
synth-goth, in the lines of She Wants Revenge. By listening to them, you are
transported back in time to the likes of The Cure, Cocteau Twins and Echo &
the Bunnymen. Stylistically the band draws from the early days of guitar driven
post-punk from bands like Joy Division, Bauhaus, Christian Death, and The
Buzzcocks. They accomplish this while creating engrossing and polished songs that
you will listen to more than once.
On their new
album, the band has a more 90’s gothic rock style but still maintain their 80’s
feel. All this but still sounding fresh and up to date. Something that is
evident from the first track "The End of Time". Catchy guitar driven
tunes, with upfront vocals and great glossy production. The upbeat tempo
doesn’t stop and continues with "Trace", another dynamic track that
brought me back memories of early Gene Love Jezebel. Next is the moody "Vril"
with its thumping drums and atmospheric synths. The song structures are
brilliantly formed, making the tracks sound very interesting and if anything,
they don’t ever let you get bored. The warm vocals are nicely placed and
crystal clear. Like on the track "Dim" that follows with its
singalong chorus, that to me, could have been something from the Killing Joke
in their mid 80’s. The tempo slows down on the darker "Broken Faces"
but steps up again on the title track "Black Swan". They deliver
another moody track with "Spectacle", where the synths and bass weave
together with the sporadic guitar riffs. The thumping drums are back on the
guitar driven "Scars (Within Walls)" and without taking a breath the
band ends the album by launching immediately into "Cold as the Ground that
Lie Above Me", ending with one of their more dynamic songs.
If you are a fan
of post-punk, there will be a song on "Black Swan" that you will
love. Every track here can stand out on its own and is a candidate for a
single. This is also the band’s first physical release, that comes as a compact
disc in 6-panel digipack including a 12-page booklet.
Review by
Nick Drivas
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