Andrew DuncanThe Hecks
My Star
Trouble In Mind Records
Links: Bandcamp | Trouble in Mind Records
Deep in the recesses of an estranged post punk era, a timeline that lies somewhere between 1978 and 1982, The Heck’s My Star would fit perfectly nested somewhere in there. Be it the late 1970s or the late 2010s, My Star exists with exuberance.
It’s not like The Hecks go above and beyond trying to outdo an original era of angular post punk madness. They just do a damn fine job at making that era their own. Jabbing poise powers through this album. Without forcefully trying to make a statement, their natural stature of accentuating this album with good production turns this these songs into a statement.
“Zipper” sounds like a record skipping; guitar sequenced on repeat over and over again until a bass line comes in and then the vocals jab like knives. It’s almost obscene, gyrating with unaltered abstraction. “The Fool” goes even further in effect, exploding in some kind of New Wave LSD trip.
The album was on schedule to sound like something else. That is until they enlisted Jeff Graupner on keyboard and re-imagined the songs that we now here on My Star. Graupner not only breathes new life into these songs, he brings out the best in guitar structure and their mathematical precision.
“Chopper’s” chugging chords drive us into a barren wasteland of anti-rock prowess. Much like The Cars, The Heck are creating their own scene.
But the music does not draw the line there. “So 4 Real” builds on the nu funk from the Paisley Underground. The Revolution, this band is not, but they do a fine job at presenting a homage to the protégés that launched careers off the First Avenue scene.
The title track ends the album with a more indie college dorm feel. If you enjoy a bit of Hot Chip then this song will tickle your fancy. Their agenda does not seem to squeak past simply making an artistic statement. Their agenda appears to be one to help clearly accentuate, refine, and give the genre a further sense of purpose.