by Conor Lochrie (@conornoconnor)
Tired of the post-punk revival yet? No? With seemingly every scruffy British 20-something with an Unknown Pleasures t-shirt being signed up as part of a buzzy wave perhaps not seen at this level since the Indie Landfill which followed Arctic Monkeys in the early noughties, you might be tired of it all soon. In the meantime though, try an American counterpart: Mesh’s self-titled debut EP is short, sweet, and to the point. Stretching for just five tracks across a mere twelve minutes, it achieves its prerogative with minimal fuss.
The Philadelphia group started as a bedroom project initially, vocalist and songwriter Sims Hardin first releasing demos back in 2019. Since then, he’s recruited others to round out the band and the result is a tight and taut EP which one could mistake for the sound of a group of musicians who had been working beside each other for years. There’s a strong sense of self and vision here, a simple but effective marrying of wry humor and precise instrumentation.
It might be facetious to even call Mesh a post-punk band. Much of this record sounds like classic scuzzy and snotty garage rock, particularly of the kind that grew in popularity at the start of this century. The whole thing is supremely infectious, filled with catchy choruses and thirstful energy; these songs are made to be danced to furiously. “CIA Mind Control” sets the tone from the start. As Hardin bellows the title repeatedly in the chorus, you’ll find yourself chanting for ‘CIA Mind Control’ as if it’s actually the name of your favorite sports team.
“Company Jeep” provides the best example of their sharp and incisive lyricism: “One of these days you’re going to lose it / You’re going to lose your cool,” Hardin sings, noting the sheer exhaustion of committing to the banality of a 9 to 5 job. Fuzzy feedback opens “Traveler” before the rhythm begins to roll again. It’s the least melodic of the five songs, more foreboding in its delivery. “Missing Link” and “Ur Dead” close the EP, easily digestible and incessantly rhythmic. The entire record is, simply, light and fun. When so much of their peers are pushing Serious Music in our direction, the contrasts of Mesh are an agreeable break.