New Politicians, the Centerville, NJ-based indie post-punk band and its music, has nothing to do with elected government officials, progressive socioeconomic policies, and successful (inter)national relations, but has everything to do with the complex and conflicted politics of the heart and soul. And on that count, New Politicians wins by a landslide on its third and latest EP, Remission, to be self-released on April 21st.
Renal Anthony (vocals, guitar), Gian Cortese (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Winston Mitlo (bass), and Chris Cox (drums; Erik Watson has since taken over drum duties) have created a moody brooder of an EP that is deeply steeped in religious imagery. The stark and vivid lyrics reflect upon broken relationships and break-ups and the inner turmoil and unallayed tension that can continue to exist long after connections have been severed. While the EP title seems to be a reference to the ‘remission of sin’, the act of absolving sin, the overall restless unease in word and sonic deed leads one to believe there is not much hope for relief.
The dramatic highs and lows inherent to the stories told unfold, not in a showy fireworks display, but in resonant songs laden with foreboding bass line undertow, simmering and ringing guitar lines, weighty drum beats, and cymbals frisson. There’s a whole lot of repressed stress and any cathartic release is brief. Surges of transportive reprieve are few, far between, and fleeting. Renal’s sing-talking vocal delivery combines a matter-of-fact, protective detachment with an emotive, pained tone.
The crisp, propulsive drum beat of EP-opener “Revelator” keeps the song in constant motion as two sharp, but hollowed-out reverb guitars plane through the unsettled atmosphere. Renal sings in a low-key, diffuse tone, reminiscent at times of Paul Banks, stating “I need a remedy to enlighten me” after the “…love that we wasted.” The drum beat takes on a more pronounced, thumping tempo as ticking drum sticks, cymbal crash, and running bass line are added to the mix. Even when reminiscing about the past, happiness cannot last, as Renal intones expressively “Your memory is a fantasy.”
Next number “Cut a Hole” continues with the same reverberating and low-register guitar sounds as a measured drum beat materializes. Renal sing-talks the bleak lyrics of “…you cut a hole too deep / deep as the river…” in an emotionally weary, resigned tone, admitting that the object of his affection “…will lure your soul away.” Not to be outdone, “Been in the Wars” strikes bright and hard with Renal’s more yearning, plaintive vocals, the tell-tale lines “Love is a war we wage / filled with the words we hate”, speedy shaken percussion, and a rapid drum beat that lifts up the vibe of the song. Midway through, the sonics turn dreamy, with the drum beat slowing down and a captivating guitar line reeling (all too briefly!) to the heavens.
Renal tells it like it is on “Images”, twisting the age-old schoolyard adage into the truth, declaring “Sticks and stones will break your bones / Word will hurt like hell”. He pushes his vocals out against a quick-marching drum beat, fast-ticking drumsticks, and cycling refrains from two guitars; one higher and one lower in register. Near the end of the song, Renal takes a softer vocal approach on the lyrics “You’re underneath her spell” as the guitars spool out against cymbal splash and gliding guitar riffs.
“Killer on the Mend”, a highlight of the EP, continues with the softness found at the end of the previous track, utilizing a gentler guitar strum, light cymbal shimmer, and steady drum pace. A bright reverb guitar line slides through the other instrumentation and then morphs into a reeling tone amid regularly bashed cymbal scintillation. Renal draws out his words that are half-buried in the mix, exclaiming “she glows” and “so cold”. The EP title track brings it down to earth, chugging along with a measured beat, drumstick taps, two echoed guitar lines of similar range, and Renal aching through the phrases “Are you the enemy? / …Is this the end of me?” The guitars weave fluidly, but with an edge of distortion, through a build-up of drum kit kinetics and cymbal hits as Renal launches into a grim, but wordy monologue that includes “Lay me down in the sun / Dig our graves one by one / Into the ground we shall lay / Inside the vows that we made…”
The band members resurrect “The Idealist”, the last song on their 1st EP, as the closer of Remission, but they have re-recorded it and in doing so, they have lost some of the luster of the original song. The steady drum tempo, chiming guitar notes, darker bass line, and Renal’s vocals are all present, but the intensity is dialed down in places. The saturated sonics of the original tune imbued it with a brilliant hue, but this version, in keeping with the overall somber ambience of the EP, dims any palpable dramatics. Renal presses out his vocals, singing “…you’re the only one in my dreams…”, but in an emotionally drained tone. The reeling reverb guitar goodness that graced the original is tempered in this version. What should be blasted out sky-high is held too much in check – but it’s still swooningly beautiful.
