Luke Seymoup is a veritable institution in the world of Melbourne indie, punk and ska, backed by his band affectionately known as the Moup Group. He today announces the release of his album ‘Tales of Suburban Angst’ on 27 February 2022 – an album that, according to Seymoup,
…was an album that the universe didn’t want us to make, but we persevered. It seemed that every time we set to work on it, we would be hit by a new lockdown or my computer hard drive would explode…
The album moves beyond the familiar inner city focus to reach the the ‘chaotic beauty’ of Melbourne’s far flung suburbia where, according to Seymoup, many will never venture or experience. To give us a flavour, Seymoup has released the single ‘Paint’. Of the track, Seymoup says:
‘Paint’ is the album’s closer – the emotional peak of the album. It is about the struggle to find an identity in your 20s, where everyone expects you to have everything worked out when you’ve been thrown in the deep end of adulthood. You just pull your socks up and continue on though, no matter what the cost to you own wellbeing and mental health.
From personal experience, not just something some of us face in our 20s, but noble sentiments all the same.
The song canters along at an effervescent pace with joyous intent and who-hoo backing vocals from the beginning. The guitars scythe and slice massive riffs under Seymoup’s dry and direct delivery, carried on mountain-high melodies. The lyrics are self-deprecating and wry:
I’m dripping with paint/Trying to change who I am/But it still shows on my face/And I’m trying to create a perfect person/It doesn’t run in my veins
There’s an ineffable charm to the single – an undercurrent of melancholy that is turned around by the contrapuntal backing chorus which brightly sparkles.
This is highly enjoyable punky pop with brains. You can download/stream the single here (and catch up on previous work) and pre-order the album through the link below:
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