Self-described as an EP which is “a discontented take on various aspects of life that we can all relate to”, Profound Absurdities covers topics from love and landlords, to fear and despair. They didn’t lie. It’s profound but it’s punchy, making you ponder over some seemingly mundane things in a slightly angry manner.
It needs to be listened to as a whole, to be fully appreciated. It’s littered with reflections and the sad realisations which accompany life… or rather, the ones we wish didn’t.
Are you real, or is this just a dream, Rave’s vocals drown out, in the opening track, ‘Reasons’. A wistfully romantic introduction to the album, it’s all reverb and no return. In a nutshell, it gives the low down of the EP; setting a heartfelt tone, and laying themselves bare for all to see (and hear). This vulnerability is a good n’ necessary kinda risk, nevertheless… and the assessment is beyond passed, already. Check, check.
This is until we get all punked up, when ‘So It Goes (So I’m Told)’ arrives. It gives you a kick up the ass, whilst maintaining that yearnful groove in the opener. It’s funky and it’s punky, with its thumping drumwork and surreal guitar licks. There’s a brief moment of spaciness, before you’re nmlaunched at rocket-speed into a double whammy of pure chaos. It’s the type of track which you can feel thudding in your chest, when you hear it down in MOJO on a Saturday night. Aka, the best type.
There’s a plateau when we reach ‘Itch’, a hardy, meaning-packed tune which was written after Rave was made redundant by his work. The spoken-word style only adds to the track’s rawness; it’s true, and it’s terrifying. If everyone made music this good after being dismissed, then the world would sound much, much better…
Reflection is probably the most prominent theme on the album. The whole EP is clothed in a veil of past-ponderings, and ‘No Wonder’ is no exception. Here, they slow down. There’s a little less rave, but even more realness. In their concluding track, ‘Cher Ami/Coda/, they tone it down yet again, but turn the sombre mood up a notch. There’s wistful wordplay and haunting pianos… both of which are strangely comforting. In fact, the entire EP is strangely comforting. Perhaps the punk reminds us of the good ol’ days, or perhaps the relatability strikes a chord in us. Either way, it’s an accumulation of bizarreness, mundanity and surprise surprise: profound absurdity – and one which is appreciated.
Haiku Review:
Profound but punchy.
Alex‘s deep thoughts give us
Less rave, more realness.
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