Anti-Social Music

A punk orchestra might seem like an unlikely endeavour, but that’s exactly how Anti-Social Music want it. This NYC collective started out in late 2000 but haven’t made their recorded debut until now. Comprised of composer and performer efforts, Sings the Great American Songbook plays out like a deranged, punk rock version of Peter and the Wolf. The arrangements here dart from spunky to brooding and aggressive, from languishing cacophonies to delicate vibrations. There are rare, sparse sprinklings of vocals and an astounding array of sounds ranging from acoustic guitars to clarinets to mandolins. This album features members of World/Inferno Friendship Society and the Hold Steady, and performances have included members of Gang Gang Dance, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Alarm Will Sound. Anti-Social Music’s Franz Nicolay said to WNYC’s Soundcheck that he encourages "the punk rockers of the world to explore the new anti-social music.” This album is often daring and always expressive, lingering in a constant state of sharp-edged uneasiness. It might not be the kind of punk we’re all used to, but it smacks of those key elements.