Polysics – Neu / 2004 Asian Man Records / 14 Tracks / http://www.polysics.com / http://www.asianmanrecords.com / Reviewed 10 March 2004

Forget the straight-forward nature of the Devo sound, this time the Polysics are morphing rock and roll with the insane noise punk of bands like Bolt Thrower, An Albatross, and the Locust. The repetitions and slight variations on a theme that the Polysics work on for three-minute bursts are the equivalent of a schizophrenic conductor rapidly spiraling out of control. Incorporating rock-revivalist bands like the White Stripes in some of their more blues-influenced tracks (X-Rays being the best example), the Polysics really make a serious argument for addition to alternative rock-radio. Even though the band plugs are essentially the same riffs throughout the majority of the tracks, the fact here is that each song is spun so differently as to lessen the effect of ennui on the listener.

Moving into the vocoder of Peter Frampton in “What”, along with the ringing phone sounds of Hiroyuki’s guitar sound, the band can paradoxically use futuristic sounds to render a perfect 70s rock track. Reclaiming the throne of electro-punk from such no-talent hacks as Refused seems to be the goal of the Polysics, and I would propose that they do just that. “Neu” contains the punk spirit through the immense shifts in influence and sound output, as well as having sections that rival the most spastic thrash punk (the second movement of the aforementioned “What”. In the grand scheme of things, the Polysics are right up there with the highest echelons of punk bands that use keyboards, vocoders, or any other non-traditional element: blowing past all those emo-rock bands like The Reunion Show and The Get Up Kids who use synthesizers, the Polysics really find their niche right along The Red Hot Valentines, The Washdown, and Atom and His Package.

The wash of electronic noise present on each sound are quite an evolution from the earliest days of Kraftwerk, and the band has really brought the idea of the “Wall of Sound” promoted by Phil Spector as well as the ape-shit randomness of Frank Zappa to the 21st century. Ending the CD with “Black Out Fall Out”, which has a synth line not unlike “We Didn’t Start the Fire” meeting every electro-pop 80s soundtrack, the Polysics make an vocoder-laden dance track. Ending the disc with this gem really caps off what is an innovative, striking, and overall fun disc, something that indiduals just don’t see enough of in this day of black hair and black shirted emo-fucks.

Top Tracks : What, Black Out Fall Out

Rating: 8.6/10