To describe Pylon as ahead of their time is somewhat misleading, because it implies that there was ever a moment when music finally caught up with them. The architects of a sound unlike any of their Athens, Georgia, contemporaries and the inspiration for numerous post-punk imitators, Pylon still sounds unlike anything before or since. The B-52s and R.E.M. have both gone on record as stating that Pylon are one of the country's best bands. That's a remarkable legacy for a group that formed more than thirty years ago with the sole intention of playing one show, getting a review in the now defunct New York Rocker, and self-imploding. This CD, which features the band's 1983 sophomore album Chomp, is DFA's second Pylon reissue (following the 2007 release of the Gyrate+ collection) and offers inarguable justification for their seminal status. "K," an unlikely ode to Scrabble that opens the record, begins with drummer Curtis Crow using his snare to tick off a beat akin to a time bomb; seconds later the song builds to a clash of jagged guitar lines, wiry bass, propulsive drumming, and Vanessa Briscoe's startling vocals. "Crazy," which R.E.M. would later famously cover, sees guitarist Randy Bewley avoiding his usual sharp angles and instead taking a jangly respite, while Briscoe veers from a moody monotone to arresting snarls and piercing yelps. "Yo-Yo" strips down to herky-jerky staccato guitar and a few perfectly placed lyrical melodies; "Gyrate" buzzes with antsy, danceable energy; "Altitude" is a gorgeous and dreamy study in loud-quiet-loud dynamics. In addition to remastered versions of the LP's twelve original tracks, Chomp More includes the 7-inch version of "Crazy," a "male version" of "Yo-Yo" on which Briscoe's slowed vocals sound like a cousin of Prince, Pylon's own frenzied, frenetic remix of "Gyrate," and the rarely heard single "Four Minutes"--an ineffably beautiful pastiche of homemade and seemingly found noise. These innovative songs speak to the timeless vision of four young people who unwittingly created a sound that is still innovative, fresh, and distinct. More than three decades on, Pylon continues to lead--while music, as always, lags safely behind.
This is Pylon.
Available October 20, 2009 where ever independent music is sold. Distributed by Revolver/Midheaven.
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Limited edition single now available: I Got the Answer/Sunflower Clock Includes limited edition screen printed mini poster by artist Amanda Burke. Available online exclusively at: http://www.athensmusic.net
