by Dan Goldin (@paintingwithdan)
Mass Text seems to operate without a strict framework. Chris Sutter’s (Meat Wave) solo project has been steadily evolving over the past two years, embracing psychedelic pop, eerie post-punk, hook filled post-hardcore, and alternative rock in equal measure, shifting at a whim from single to single. It’s a catch-all for Sutter’s songwriting, a place to explore (relatively) quieter songs and an emotional depth rarely seen in the corrosive punk of Meat Wave, and wouldn’t you know it, he’s exceptional at both. Following a pair of singles and a recent split seven inch, Mass Text is set to release their debut album, Perfect New Knife, on January 29th via Solid Brass Records (Doomflower, Bursting, The Black Heart Procession), an expansive record that moves at its own dynamic pace.
“Pink Slips” can hardly be described as quiet, but there is a minimalist aura, a song that creeps through the dissonance rather than outright swarm in it. With an incessant rhythmic pulse that wouldn’t feel out of place on an old Liars record, Sutter and co. glide across the menacing landscape, discussing love without a cure as though it was a sickness to beware of. Recorded together with Jason Balla (Dehd), who both produced and plays on the record, the duo ride a shaky wave of electronic dread and hypnotic grooves on a song riddled with feedback yet texturally clean. On an album that never stays in place for too long, “Pink Slips” embraces sci-fi tinged post-punk, churning love’s innocence into something far more mystifying.
Speaking about the track, Sutter shared:
“‘Pink Slips’ is the starting point and impetus for Perfect New Knife. While it doesn’t really sound like any other song on the album, it gave us the freedom to produce whatever felt right for the record, depending on the song and energy we wanted to convey. We built on top of the home demo in the studio, so much of the original takes and feeling of the song was retained. The feedback on the track is from two really old walkie talkies that I recorded on my phone while on a tour. The term “pink slips” refers to a time when my gums wouldn’t stop bleeding so all my teeth looked like little pink slips in my mouth.”
Catch Mass Text live:
11/18 - Chicago, IL @ Hideout w/ Brent Penny
02/12 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle (album release)
02/13 - Minneapolis, MN @ Cloudland
02/14 - Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club