Soviet Soviet - Summer Jesus

Soviet Soviet are back with their brand of dirt-fused emo post punk with 'Summer Jesus' 12". It is limited to 300 copies and comes on red wax. 'Summer Jesus' was originally released on Tannen Records as a CD. Now, thanks to Mannequin it is available as a limited edition vinyl.

I first got familiar with Soviet Soviet after hearing "Cobretto" played in the clubs in NYC a few years back. I was captivated by the guitar and the shouted vocals that sounded like someone yelling to someone else on opposite ends of a tunnel. I've since picked up all their releases including the split 12" with coldwavers Frank (just frank). Fortunately for the newcomers to Soviet Soviet their discography is available digitally as you will not find their CDs too easily.

So where do we start with "Summer Jesus"? Do we call it punk? emo? new wave? Call it what you will. The answer can probably be found somewhere in outskirts of punk and post punk. Soviet Soviet ignore the no trespassing signs and let everything go to create and impose their will on the genres. "Contradiction", "Prince, Prostitutes" & "The Beasts Are Brave" lash out with fury and bring together everything that makes this release so powerful. They found a way to fuse everything together with timely and memorable bass-lines, excellent drumming and the haunting Snake Corps-like guitars. They pick up where punk rock ends and something wonderful begins.

As I go back to the first time I heard "Cobretto", it was refreshing to know it wasn't the only song I would ever like by them. So many times you hear a good track and go out of your way to buy the music only to find that it was their only good song. Although "Cobretto" is not on this release "Summer Jesus" picks up the torch from Soviet Soviet's earlier works.

Fans of The Snake Corps, Agent Side Grinder, The Soft Moon and even Joy Division will most-likely appreciate what Soviet Soviet has to offer. Feb 17 2013