Uneasy Laughter

Moanings self-titled 2018 debut was an astonishingly focused set of noisy post-punk songs filled with scathingly bitter lyrics that attempted to uncover the problems behind faulty relationships. On the bands second album, they retain the same lyrical concerns, but they completely revamp their sound, replacing the sheets of guitars with synthesizers and electronic loops. Not that guitars have entirely left the picture, as every song contains them in some form or another, but theres a much wider range of tones on display here. Even with the switch from noise-pop to dark new wave, and the increased sonic experimentation, the band still write hook-filled songs with cutting lyrics that attempt to make sense of a constant storm of conflicting feelings. While touring and working on the album, vocalist Sean Solomon became sober and extensively read books about gender and mental health. While the albums lyrics deal with self-doubt and regret, with Solomon directing the blame at himself, the songs reflect a greater sense of empathy -- he expresses the desire to love others on opener Ego. Still, elsewhere he warns other people of his faults so that they dont get pulled into a whirlpool of pain and destruction. On Fall in Love, he expresses the fear that a potential partner wont be interested in him once they get to know him and find out who he really is, and on the brutal What Separates Us, he attempts to stave off disappointment by declaring youre wasting your time, theres nothing here for you that will satisfy. This seems like it could end up being an overwhelmingly bleak and depressing album, but the best songs are written and performed in a way that resonates, and the creativity of the music itself makes the harsh sentiments easier to digest. Running is both complex and breezy, with spacious production and rhythm that seems to float above the ground yet still sounds insistent. Say Something is filled with soft drum machine pulsations and calming waves of synth textures. Even with the groups expanded sound, there are still direct hits like Make It Stop, the albums most riff-heavy rock song. Uneasy Laughter is a riskier proposition than Moanings first album, but it demonstrates their tremendous growth, both as a band and as humans. ~ Paul Simpson

デビュー作が多くの音楽メディアで高評価を得たLAのポスト・パンク・バンドのセカンド・アルバム。今作では大胆にもギターの比重をシンセに切り替え、ドラム・ビートを軸にしたメロディアスなヴォーカルにフォーカスしている。ジョイ・ディヴィジョンに端を発してエコー&ザ・バニーメンらネオ・サイケを経由、グランジを通り過ぎ、混沌とした現代の音楽シーンで奏でる不穏なデジタル・サウンドが小気味良い。
bounce (C)柴田かずえ