The Threepios – Run, Luke, Run!
Similar artists: XTC, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Joe Jackson, They Might Be Giants, Pixies
Genre: Alternative Rock, Alt Pop
The only two music styles that have any business still being around are power-pop and garage rock. Everything else, no matter how popular it may become, is merely a trend. Bands may go out and sell millions of records, t-shirts and concert tickets, but they’ll end up sounding passe. Singers may receive endorsements from fish-flavoured Japanese soft drink companies or from American gun manufacturers. But, even they will end up looking uncool in time.
Garage-rock and power-pop are pure. They represent only a minor evolution over the state that a band finds itself in once it first enters a rehearsal space. The minute they figure out how to make chords and write songs, they’ll either want to create sonic mayhem or the kinds of melodies that anyone can hum along on their way to work. It’s pure!
The Threepios belong to a wonderful tradition of guitar-based pop songwriting. Like the groups that they pay homage to, they also are quirky and weird and enjoy the kinds of past-times that wouldn’t help a tell-all autobiography sell very many copies. “Run, Luke, Run!” is a sweet power-pop tune written for what, one day, may become a Star Wars rock opera. Write about, you know, the old, bearded writers say. The Threepios take this to heart. And, who knows, they might get you humming along to yourself as well.
Pari Eskandari – Drehmoment
Similar artists: Massive Attack, Tricky, FKA twigs, Arca
Genre: Indietronica, Alt Pop
Of course, all you need to do to find out who’s really in charge of a place is find out who is beyond being criticised. Right now, throughout the world, there are numerous groups and figures that like to pretend to be that way. They project a mighty and terrifying power. Like the dictators of old, they want to let the world know that their plans will not be interfered with.
Using humour, writing songs or poems about them might slow down their vengeance. But they’ll get to you eventually. You’ll never know how much you value jokes, songs or poems until you’re no longer allowed to use your own words for them. This censorship occurs all throughout the world. But it is most violent in certain places, to be sure.
Pari Eskandari makes protest music. The Iranian-German singer is concerned with women’s rights in Persia and throughout the world. “Drehmoment” is a gloomy, meditative track featuring the kind of production and cinematic instrumentation that might bring to mind 90s Bristol trip-hop. Her association with Tricky’s label is thus not accidental. And while this may not be as direct as “Rebel Girl,” it is an interesting meditation on what freedom means in this day and age.
