Ubik - Next Phase 12" (Iron Lung)
Before
this 12” Melbourne’s Ubik released one Ep and a split 7” with the unsung Cold
Meat, both releases I heard, but neither hit me. This 12” is a different story,
which has your humble reviewer questioning his judgement of the earlier
material. Next Phase combines a post-punk sound with a punk rock attitude.
Describing Ubik’s sound won’t do the music justice, but here’s an attempt, just
to give an impression: the bass sounds full, the guitar static and the drumming
is tight. Nice snare sound too. After a couple of hears I felt like the guy
hitting the skins here is really good at what he does, but what do I know? It
turns out Max has been in a shitload of other groups so perhaps I’m right. Who’s
to say? Musically Ubik brings to mind Synthetic ID, who also played post-punk,
but clearly came from a (hardcore) punk background. Early material by the
Estranged is not a bad reference either although Ubik has more attitude and
teeth.
That attitude and those teeth are to be contributed to Ash, the vocalist of the group, who reminds me of the singer of Plastic Heap. How’s that for an obscure reference? Ash is angry and has things to say. The seven songs on this 12” cover a broad range of topics. A couple of tracks are about depression, feeling left out in and alienated from the shitty society we live in. They’re well written and although this subject might be the main thing that got me into punk, no new ground is covered in these songs nor does it have to. The lines ‘Sometimes I can’t stand my own fucking face/ but no matter how much I hate myself/ You’ll always be first place’ are perfect in my book and never will I be bored by a band that can convey such a message in a heartfelt way. Noteworthy for its lyrical content is ‘John Wayne (is a cowboy) and is on Twitter))’, which raises questions about free speech in the digital age. ‘Peter Dutton is a Terrorist’ is also a political song about Australia’s contemporary Minister of Home Affairs and Australia’s policy in regard to the continent’s original inhabitants, the Aboriginals. The insert mentions that ‘Ubik recognise that sovereignty was never ceded. Alway was, always will be aboriginal land’. I don’t feel comfortable commenting much on this subject for my knowledge of it is far too limited, but Ubik seem to be on the right side of history. Plus I am always pleased to see a punk band involved with politics in a way that invites one to do research instead of dictating what to think. This is the case here.
Next Phase is a solid effort that should appeal to punks who like their music intense and energetic, their lyrical content outspoken and challenging to the status quo. Iron Lung has done an excellent job on the packaging of this record. How could it be any other way? A great record allround. The only gripe I can come up with is that it only contains 7 songs, but it’s better to leave the listener craving more once the needle leaves the vinyl than checking his mobile for Whatsapp messages halfway through. At that Ubik have succeeded.
That attitude and those teeth are to be contributed to Ash, the vocalist of the group, who reminds me of the singer of Plastic Heap. How’s that for an obscure reference? Ash is angry and has things to say. The seven songs on this 12” cover a broad range of topics. A couple of tracks are about depression, feeling left out in and alienated from the shitty society we live in. They’re well written and although this subject might be the main thing that got me into punk, no new ground is covered in these songs nor does it have to. The lines ‘Sometimes I can’t stand my own fucking face/ but no matter how much I hate myself/ You’ll always be first place’ are perfect in my book and never will I be bored by a band that can convey such a message in a heartfelt way. Noteworthy for its lyrical content is ‘John Wayne (is a cowboy) and is on Twitter))’, which raises questions about free speech in the digital age. ‘Peter Dutton is a Terrorist’ is also a political song about Australia’s contemporary Minister of Home Affairs and Australia’s policy in regard to the continent’s original inhabitants, the Aboriginals. The insert mentions that ‘Ubik recognise that sovereignty was never ceded. Alway was, always will be aboriginal land’. I don’t feel comfortable commenting much on this subject for my knowledge of it is far too limited, but Ubik seem to be on the right side of history. Plus I am always pleased to see a punk band involved with politics in a way that invites one to do research instead of dictating what to think. This is the case here.
Next Phase is a solid effort that should appeal to punks who like their music intense and energetic, their lyrical content outspoken and challenging to the status quo. Iron Lung has done an excellent job on the packaging of this record. How could it be any other way? A great record allround. The only gripe I can come up with is that it only contains 7 songs, but it’s better to leave the listener craving more once the needle leaves the vinyl than checking his mobile for Whatsapp messages halfway through. At that Ubik have succeeded.
Hear it here: https://ironlungpv.bandcamp.com/album/next-phase-mlp-lungs-148
