So what do you get when you combine (unlikely as it might sound) punk with techno?
Well you can find out by checking out this new single from Copenhagen-based Farveblind (‘Colour blind’).
This is ‘Battle Lady-Like’, which features vocals from Jesse Clasen of the US duo Foreign Air. It will also appear on a so far unnamed debut album along with a previously released single, ‘Salary Man’.
They seem to be pretty deep thinkers. ‘Salary Man’ had a pop at the Japanese archetype that puts his employer, the office and the monotonous life it offers before everything else (I recall one of them – quite a young guy – literally working himself to death in Tokyo a few years ago; he was found slumped over a spreadsheet). Perhaps David Brent was his boss.
This time the target is general apathy and the collapse of society with its main strap line being “These feet will never march” – perceived as a refusal to engage, to resist, and take a stand.
Now I know big political changes are going on in Denmark right now but not enough about the apathy or lack of it of the citizens to embrace or reject that change. My knowledge of Danish society is sadly limited to Scandi Noir TV series and plenty of those have been set in Denmark – woolly sweaters, Porches, tight fitting leather trousers and sexy criminal profilers included.
But I do know about the UK and apathy doesn’t seem to be in evidence here, judging off social media comment and marches in London and other cities.
But Farveblind have hit on something because social media commentary just skims the surface of popular sentiment. Many folk have become so brain dead and impoverished that they are merely surviving between welfare payments and haven’t the time or the energy for protest.
So ‘Battle Lady-Like’ hints at a weakness of purpose. Handbags at dawn. You might argue that’s a sexist take on things but it does what it says on the tin.
They’re smart lyrically but perhaps too smart for their own good and they do claim online that they wrote this song in the early hours of the morning, in a state of inebriation and after watching a documentary on Led Zeppelin.
They’re like a modern day Nordic version of the metaphysical poets, exploring their theme with elaborate language that doesn’t stand up to examination.
I can’t for example understand why credit fraud and body horror film maker Paul Cronenberg appear in the same verse. Or why “In Luxembourg, underground, the tunnels are filling with blood.” Yes, those extensive tunnels are known for their historical significance but I’m not aware of them being particularly bloody, ever. An observation on a chaotic world maybe; but a conundrum too far.
Musically, it’s much better, propelled by a thumping bass line. I don’t know about techno punk though. To my mind if you think of a metal take on King Crimson’s ‘21st Century Schizoid Man’ complete with 1970s mellotron you’re on the right lines.
That was about the Vietnam War and it made no bones about the fact. It didn’t matter if you were colour blind, it was spelt out in black and white.
Sometimes it pays to declare your hand.
(Continues after the Spotify link).
Find them on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farveblind/
X: https://x.com/Farvefarveblind
Photo credit: Noemi Kapusy.
