Review Summary: riffs riffs riffs
After Christopher Reimer's untimely death, Women's remains scattered into different projects. While Patrick Flegel drifted into various experimental projects, Matthew Flegel and Michael Wallace decided to form the natural off-shoot and Viet Cong was born. The result of this new collaboration, with fresh members Scott Munro, and Daniel Christiansen, is tightly-knit post-punk that resembles their old band but doesn't give off the same vibes in the slightest. In terms of family members, Women would be the slummed-out uncle who's begging you for money whilst Viet Cong is the nephew who seems like he has his *** together but does coke in bathroom at 1 AM.
Viet Cong's modus operandi is through glazed eyes and lazy guitars. They sound as if they have no map of where they're going, but rather, they don't need one. The band brings a muted force to frame the record, bass and guitar intertwining seamlessly, creating riffs that are flawless in their execution. Every track drags you in with a carefully performed twinge, a locked-in groove that never ceases to thrill. Even on songs like "Structureless Design" and "Select Your Drone", which show their roots as Women more clearly, instead of holding something back as they would of done previously, Viet Cong grab you by the throat and throw you to the ground in the coolest manner possible.
Catchy but not incessant, reserved but not distant,
Cassette is a delight in its ability to concoct memorable moments through brilliantly formed riffs. Every song begets its own situation and atmosphere, and the technical guile displayed here is nothing to scoff at as well. It's refreshing that an EP this cohesive, this focused, is coming out of a new project, and we can only wait in anticipation at Viet Cong will devise next. For now, just direct your attention towards those sick riffs.
