PyPy has today released their new single titled ‘Lonely Striped Sock’ from their upcoming album ‘Sacred Times’ dropping October 18 via Goner Records. Some bands, and artists, have that endearing quirkiness abut them. Something that lets you know it’s them from that first note hit. A subtle audio announcement, if you will. PyPy take that original vibe, volume, and vicariousness from their audience and blast it at their own sonic levels with the flair and frankness of confident musicians.
‘Lonely Striped Sock’ is a perfect introduction to all that will be ‘Sacred Times’ from a band that has waited a decade to make that second album yet there seems no gap. ‘Lonely Striped Sock’ has that feel that is PyPy with a casual evolution while staying in that same creative lane just enough to let you know it’s them. Like an old friend you haven’t seen in ten years showing up at your door right when you need them the most.
About ‘Lonely Striped Sock’
“Lonely Striped Sock” grooves along like “Earthbeat”-era Slits/ESG until the chorus transforms PYPY into something else entirely. Something huge. Something with monster riffs and wah wah that pins you to the back wall. So there is clearly a brilliance with dynamics here, and it proves to be a not-so-secret-weapon that repays the “ear-vestment” in dividends throughout. This is the first single off of their upcoming album Sacred Times, set to release October 18th.
“In ‘A Lonely Striped Sock,’ the song poignantly illustrates the journey of a solitary sock searching for its missing pair, a metaphor for the longing and incompleteness that comes from being separated from one’s true love. The sock’s quest symbolizes the universal human desire to find connection and wholeness”
About PyPy & ‘Sacred Times’
It’s been a long decade since Montreal’s PYPY landed with their debut Pagan Day (Slovenly), but the same lunatics behind CPC Gangbangs, Red Mass and Duchess Says are back with Sacred Times on Goner Records. One might recall the thunderous pop of their banger “She’s Gone” carving out a place for itself in the high-end fashion world, becoming the soundtrack to Yves Saint Laurent’s 2016 show. If that album bounced, punched and clawed like Delta 5 covered in dirt and trying to get somewhere in a booted vehicle while dodging lightning rod guitar licks the whole way, Sacred Times takes things to somewhere far beyond the proverbial “next level”.
Co-vocalist/founder/multi-instrumentalist Annie-Claude Deschênes’ (Duchess Says) signature howl and vocal acrobatics are present but so is a tendency towards beautiful melodies. Bassist Philippe Clement’s (Duchess Says) brings a nastier bottom end that locks onto Simon Besré’s drumming with a death grip for the entire affair. And guitarist/co-vocalist Roy Vucino (Red Mass, CPC Gangbangs, Birds of Paradise, Les Sexareenos, a gazillion others) goes bonkers with wildass blown-out guitar that’s like hornets caught in yr hair.
“Lonely Striped Sock” grooves along like “Earthbeat”-era Slts/ESG until the chorus transforms PyPy into something else entirely. Something huge. Something with monster riffs and wah wah that pins you to the back wall. So there is clearly a brilliance with dynamics here, and it proves to be a not-so-secret-weapon that repays the “ear-vestment” in dividends throughout. “Ear-vestment”? Yikes.
Then it’s time for “She’s Back”, a sort of part 2/continuation (maybe a trilogy is in the works?) of Pagan Day’s best-known gem (the aforementioned “She’s Gone”). This one packs a hook that’ll make your brain take out a restraining order. Looking for lost keys? Jury duty? Underwater welding? Negotiating a hostage situation? It doesn’t matter…nothing will stop it from invading your thoughts. They say the only way to get a song unstuck from the noodle is to listen to it from start to finish, but you’ll be doing that anyway. A lot.
“Erase” is a (synth) noise-punk nugget; revealing a need for Brainiac-meets-Blondie we didn’t know we had…deceptively kicking off with a no-fi drum machine that is immediately lost in the massive pop din that seemingly includes everything within reach.
“Poodle Escape” is two minutes of perfect (and perfectly distorted) synth-punk and “I Am A Simulation”-with lead vox from Vucino-is yet another hit that deviates from the noise a bit and pays homage to both Devo and classic late-70’s (big) power-pop (ex: first Cars LP), but with a manic nature that is 150% circa right now.
“15 Sec” (actually 3:38 in duration, thankfully) serves up a stanky-brown bass line, Deschênes’ gorgeous vocals, wonderfully combative white hot, pin-the-meters Oh Sees/early Comets on Fire guitar rips, and a stunning coda that seems to utilize everything great about this band over its final minute.
The album’s title track is a love letter to Hawkwind in the musical language already established here. “Vanishing Blinds” is like being chased through the rain-soaked streets in an unknown dystopian nightmare from 40+ years ago.
The album closes with the brooding if not playful menace of “Poodle Escape”, which, like every track before it, is completely unlike every track before it.
‘Sacred Times’ Tracklist
- Lonely Striped Sock
- She’s Back
- Erase
- Poodle Wig
- I Am A Simulation
- 15 Sec
- Sacred Times
- Vanishing Blinds
- Poodle Escape
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Pypyband/
https://www.instagram.com/pypy.band/
https://pypy.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4IlYVbge5vopwlp5yI82Bz