Closet Disco Queen Stream Sexy Audio Deviance for Punk Bums EP in Full
Posted in audiObelisk, Reviews on April 3rd, 2017 by JJ Koczan
Swiss instrumentalist duo Closet Disco Queen release their new EP, Sexy Audio Deviance for Punk Bums, this Friday, April 7. Out through Crazysane Records, Unquiet Records and Division Records all at once, it’s the second offering from the guitar/drum two-piece of Jonathan Nido and Luc Hess behind their 2015 self-titled debut (review here), and in addition to the multitude of labels, it comes accompanied by a multitude of live dates the band will play across Europe, including a slot among the enviable lineup of Desertfest London 2017.
Nido and Hess‘ progressive pedigree has been well noted in the past — their affiliations with The Ocean, among others — and that continues to be a factor throughout the three songs of Sexy Audio Deviance for Punk Bums as well, though the band seem to want to cloak it in a “we’re just here to have a good time” kind of vibe. Nothing against that, and indeed, “Ninjaune” (6:37), “El Moustachito” (3:57) and “Délicieux” (6:14) are a good time, but while their moniker and titles come across as tongue-in-cheek, there’s much more to Closet Disco Queen‘s presentation than tossoffs or screwing around. From the ambient opening of “Ninjaune” to the graceful linear build that ensues, the EP sets in motion an album-style flow that’s nothing if not purposeful.
Of course, it’s only about 17 minutes long, so Hess and Nido don’t have quite the same amount of room
to stretch out as they did on the prior full-length, but with flourish of keys/effects and driving payoff rhythms, they make the most of what they’ve got. Beginning with “Ninjaune,” which is the longest track in addition to the opener (immediate points), they set up a subtly patient, still duly stylized motion of turns and winds, rhythmically tight and gradually increasing in volume as it goes until after about four minutes in, they arrive at a start-stop progression that hints at just how far they’re willing to push this time out. Somewhat more raucous from the start, “El Moustachito” picks up from there and might be from whence the notion of “punk” in the EP title comes, but while the movement is more forward-directed, it by no means comes through as oversimplified or lacking in breadth.
Rather, it’s just shorter and more up front in its groove. Less direct than, say, Karma to Burn, but more direct than either “Ninjaune” or the subsequent “Délicieux,” though the closer has its thrust as well, toying somewhat with the linearity of the leadoff track but ultimately working toward something else structurally. One hesitates to call it “verse/chorus” when there aren’t vocals to provide either, but there’s definitely a hook, and Closet Disco Queen make their way fluidly toward a rousing finish marked out by Hess‘ crash and a suitably bouncing riff from Nido that seems to come to a head just as they get to the last minute of the song, only to stop and revive itself on a faster course, ending cold but with maximum energy.
Is that “sexy audio deviance?” Is it “for punk bums?” I don’t know. It seems like well structured semi-progressive heavy instrumental rock to me, and I kind of think Closet Disco Queen are underselling how much they put into their craft. But that works out to be part of the charm of the release — not necessarily a humility, but the fact that Nido and Hess have clearly made such an effort with this material and that they’re still willing to present it in a way that highlights the raw enjoyment aspect of both the creation and the listening experience. One expects they’ll keep moving forward in terms of sound, but so long as they can remember to have this kind of fun, Closet Disco Queen should only become more distinct as a part of that process.
Please enjoy a full stream of Sexy Audio Deviance for Punk Bums below, followed by some words from Nido about the EP and hints of future changes to come, as well as Closet Disco Queen‘s upcoming tour dates.
Goes like this:
Jona Nido on Sexy Audio Deviance for Punk Bums:
All three songs from the new EP have been written in the last six months up to a year. That means before recording them, we have played them live a good hundred times. When we recorded the debut album, we had two days to write 75 percent of the songs and record them in live conditions. If you listen to the songs live the way we play them now, there is only few to do with the atmosphere you’ll find on the album.
On the debut album we had no idea how we wanted to sound and went with the flow. Now after all these tours we both know what we like for this band and how we want it to sound on record as well as on stage. It was a long but very constructive process. We also narrowed our sound towards a more straightforward heavy rock. I also think that this is maybe the end of an era for this band. I’m not sure how many more songs we’ll be able to write as a two-piece and not repeat ourselves…
PREORDER-LINK: http://smarturl.it/CDQ
CLOSET DISCO QUEEN live:
Apr 04 MS-Loretta Celle, Germany
Apr 07 Zorrock La Chaux-De-Fonds, Switzerland
Apr 08 Chez Marie Lovens, Switzerland
Apr 14 Port-Franc Sion, Switzerland
Apr 20 Kon-Tiki Zurich, Switzerland
Apr 21 Le Cirque Electrique Paris, France
Apr 22 Le Ferrailleur Nantes, France
Apr 25 La Machine Nancy, France
Apr 26 PDZ Besancon, France
Apr 27 MAC DAID’S Le Havre, France
Apr 28 DesertFest (The Dev, free entry) London, United Kingdom
May 18 Trendkill Music Store Vitrolles, France
May 19 Raymond Bar Clermont-Ferrand, France
May 20 L’Hexagone Bourges, France
May 27 Brasserie BFM Saignelégier, Switzerland
Jun 07 L’Amalgamme Yverdon, Switzerland
Jun 16 Festineuch Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Closet Disco Queen is:
Jona Nido – guitar
Luc Hess – drums
Closet Disco Queen on Thee Facebooks
Division Records on Thee Facebooks
Crazysane Records on Thee Facebooks
