BEST NEW TRACKS: VIET CONG “SILHOUETTES”

“Ex-Canadian Women Turn Viet Cong, Revive 80’s Dark Wave”

That should probably be the headline, if only we were a little braver, for the best new song “Silhouettes” by Viet Cong. The Calgary quartet was formed by vocalist and bassist Matt Flegel and drummer Mike Wallace [‘Oh shit Mike Wallace. Run!’], both of whom were in the art rock group Women that Chad Vangaalen was associated with.

Anyhow, back to “Silhouettes.” This track harbors the same dark, gothic undertones that 80’s groups like Joy Division made a name off of, mixed with that eerie synth line plucked straight from the same Brit Rock scene. For you younger readers, Joy Division is the band Interpol is trying to sound like. Speaking of Interpol, the lead rift here feels like some territory they’ve explored. “Silhouettes” takes us deep inside a relationship that is crumbling and both parties seem to be just playing out the string. Or it’s about the time Flegel got electro-shocked on stage. You decide. Either way, this second single off the band’s self-titled debut LP is awesome.

Check out the great sci fi video for Viet Cong “Silhouettes,” even though its relationship to the song seems negligible at best.  

VIET CONG “SILHOUETTES” 

Viet Cong is out now via Jagjaguwar in the US and Flemish Eye in Canada. Get den shits now!

About Calvin Paradise

Calvin Paradise manages to live a productive life despite a childhood of home schooling and suffering from what some doctors have called the worst case of Groucho Marx's Syndrome in recorded history.