Looking over the press release it appears that this thing this first EP release has been on the streets since 2003. Upon listening my first question was “Why wasn’t this released last year?” I’m terrified that the huge successes of Franz Ferdinand and Interpol are going to make Prosaics look like late-comers to the party. Well, to those of us who live outside of New York anyway and the delayed push is an attempt to remind those that may have forgotten and pick up new listeners in the process.
The band is comprised of Andy Comer (guitar, vocals), William Kuchn (drums), and Joshua Zucker (bass). These three young men met in New York in 2002, and quickly became one of the city’s biggest up and coming bands. Thin, bordering on emaciated, with flawless haircuts and style, these guys just look like indie-rock gods. That alone will probably insure a music video coming soon to a television near you. This is not to say that their music doesn’t warrant it.
A mixture of new wave and post-punk, from the outset Aghast Agape goes straight for the jugular. Kuchn’s rapid-fire drumming combined with Zucker’s strong bass line, is the framework on which the band builds their songs. Comer’s sharp guitar work is added on top of the blisteringly up-tempo rhythm section. All of this energy emanating from the stereo makes it hard for the listener to sit still. It’s Comer’s voice that manages to add a calming influence to the music, while still keeping up. He manages to fill it with a Morrisey-esque sadness and pain.
On Aghast Agape you can hear influences from The Misfits, Joy Division, and The Smiths. The first song “Teeth,” even pulls a guitar riff and bass line from surf music. Other songs on the EP are cheerfully titled “Failure,” “Crawling,” and “Now The Shadow of The Column.” The trio has hit upon a combination of sadness and energy that insures you don’t get too much of one or the other. Quite frankly, on this far too brief EP, you just don’t get enough of any of it.
Ian Nelson owns and operates the swanky vintage clothing store Rare Bird with his brother Tristram. Rare Bird is located on 13th Street between Marion and Downing, a few doors away from Gabor’s. How convenient. Their number is 303.830.0216 and their open late on Friday’s and Saturday’s. How convenient. Can we say, a vintage rock concert t-shirt and vodka tonic?
