You'd be forgiven for thinking that Washington, DC-based rock trio Flasher wrote an album of disillusioned songs surrounding America's political calamity. But their debut full-length Constant Image is so much more. The band masterfully produce politically charged tracks situated in tales of the everyday struggle of people living in America's political seat.
Veering slightly from their previous post-punk efforts, Flasher brought producer Nicolas Vernhes (Animal Collective, War on Drugs, Deerhunter) on board for this album. The outcome is a lighter sound of sun-kissed guitar grooves and seamlessly overlapping vocals.
Opening track "Go" shows off this mix when the band sing of cutting a line after another hard day of work, set to psychedelic-tinged guitar thrumming. That theme persists, with every lyrical reflection on the monotony of everyday life presenting an equal opportunity to hear a buzzy earworm ripe for radio play.
"Pressure" hops through lyrics of a suicidal town with incredibly in-sync vocals from Taylor Mulitz (Priests), Daniel Saperstein and Emma Baker and a persistent drum line, while the LP's closest punk rock production comes at the end with "Business Unusual." A parting shot at corrupt people, the song's hook repeats: "Once a man, now a boy in blue / This whole world's got it out for you," while retaining a sense of whimsy with a bass line echoing a '70s sitcom opening.
On Constant Image, Flasher speaks to the realities of gentrification, self-discovery and escapism. The only conclusion is Trump or no Trump, the world spins madly on.
(Domino)Veering slightly from their previous post-punk efforts, Flasher brought producer Nicolas Vernhes (Animal Collective, War on Drugs, Deerhunter) on board for this album. The outcome is a lighter sound of sun-kissed guitar grooves and seamlessly overlapping vocals.
Opening track "Go" shows off this mix when the band sing of cutting a line after another hard day of work, set to psychedelic-tinged guitar thrumming. That theme persists, with every lyrical reflection on the monotony of everyday life presenting an equal opportunity to hear a buzzy earworm ripe for radio play.
"Pressure" hops through lyrics of a suicidal town with incredibly in-sync vocals from Taylor Mulitz (Priests), Daniel Saperstein and Emma Baker and a persistent drum line, while the LP's closest punk rock production comes at the end with "Business Unusual." A parting shot at corrupt people, the song's hook repeats: "Once a man, now a boy in blue / This whole world's got it out for you," while retaining a sense of whimsy with a bass line echoing a '70s sitcom opening.
On Constant Image, Flasher speaks to the realities of gentrification, self-discovery and escapism. The only conclusion is Trump or no Trump, the world spins madly on.
