Pitchfork

[Posted Friday, October 3rd, 2003 04:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Jagged, high-pitched guitars. Thick, propulsive basslines. Jittery, spitting, and often impenetrable vocals. If you count the aforementioned aural components among your favored qualities in underground music, it's a good time to buy a case of eardrums. While perhaps not as widely publicized as the dancepunk boom, the upswept art-punk revival is hitting that perfect median between unsuitable obscurity and immoderate saturation.

One the most underlooked acts of this movement, and arguably the most innovative (taking into account the demise of The Fire Show), the San Diego quartet GoGoGo Airheart have recently announced that they have begun recording their fourth album. Though the term "art-punk" paints a distinct musical portrait, GoGoGo Airheart is commendable for expanding on the existing categorical frame with an eclectic and uncommonly easy-to-digest blend of stylistic cornerstones. Though the traditional abrasive instrumentation remains in place, it is enriched and occasionally replaced by such contextually intriguing elements such as acoustic guitars, accordions, string arrangements, and an unabashed appreciation for good old sixties pop. An adulterating wave of boring art-punk retreads is sure to come-- I personally sleep with my copy of Entertainment! tucked safely in my arms in preparation for this pervasive mongrel horde-- but GoGoGo Airheart make it clear from the start that they do not travel among them.

According to the band's website, it won't be long until their latest effort is ready for mass consumption. "We've been spending most of our time writing new material and rehearsing. In July we began to record things ourselves on our own machine at Andy's place. Early in August we parted ways with [drummer] Jay Hough, which changed the dynamic of the sound. Then we started recording with John Reis (Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes) at his studio."

The modest Courier text, which I like to think is a blasphemous cyborg amalgamation of the remaining band members, goes on to divulge a bit about what to expect in the new songs: "The material we have already laid down sounds 'way dyno-mite!'," the mechanical mockery awkwardly declares in a disastrous attempt to emulate human speech patterns. "It looks like we're gonna put out a single with GSL early in the new year and have the full length out in the spring."

In the meantime, the band has announced a handful of California dates (including several shows with quirky pop veterans Enon) at which they will be playing a choice selection of fresh new material:

10-02 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar *
10-03 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo *
10-04 San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord *
10-05 San Francisco, CA - Verdi Club (w/ Evening, Low Flying Owls)
10-31 San Diego, CA - The Casbah (w/ Rocket from the Crypt, 21st Century Lepers)

* with Enon