...Art

Sound DNA

• Alt/Indie
• Alternative Rock

• distorted
• cynical
• witty

About

Regurgitator’s third album was the last time founding drummer Martin Lee would record or perform with the band. Lee alleged his departure had to do with a distinct lack of the former, claiming his work was replaced with a drum machine for the bulk of <i>…art</i>. On both accounts, he was absent for much of its recording—replaced by Spiderbait drummer Kram for “Strange Human Being” and “I Love Tommy Mottola,” a new friend vocalist Quan Yeomans had made while he filled his time between releases with Spiderbait bassist Janet English in Happyland. Certainly the glitchy percussion driving “Freshmint!,” “Are U Being Served?,” and synthwave extravaganza “The Lonely Guy” is not a real person, but this would seem a creative necessity and not a matter of in-house talent. By the end of Regurgitator’s breakthrough second record, 1997’s <i>Unit</i>, the question for many was: “What genre is this band?” Ironically and prophetically given <i>Unit</i>’s biggest hit “Polyester Girl,” a subsequent amount of plasticity was to be expected on <i>…art</i>—especially when the Brisbane trio “answered” said question via the album’s title with all the wry silliness that lead singer Yeomans takes to its intentionally maddening zenith on “I Like Repetitive Music.” Vitally, bassist Ben Ely shares equal writing credits with Yeomans to anti-formulaic effect. His penchant for organic punk rock on “I Wanna Be A Nudist” and “Obtusian” help <i>…art</i> more clearly define the identity of its own halting hubris: Said art is a pastiche; one part the brashness of 1996 debut <i>Tu-Plang</i>, one part <i>Unit</i>’s fondness for ’80s pop.

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits